Activists seek legal marijuana in former hippie haven Nepal

KATHMANDU – Widely disposable marijuana erstwhile drew thousands of hippies to Nepal, wherever its usage was not lone accepted but embedded successful some the civilization and religion.

But the state followed different nations successful outlawing marijuana successful the precocious 1970s and chased distant the hippies who came connected buses from Europe and United States.

Half a period later, campaigners are seeking to again legalize the farming, usage and export of marijuana arsenic much countries let its medicinal and recreational use.

Supporters person introduced a measure successful Parliament that would legalize marijuana, though statement has been delayed by continuing squabbles betwixt governmental parties for power.

“We are demanding the legalization of marijuana successful Nepal firstly for medicinal purposes for patients who are dying,” Rajiv Kafle, a run leader, said astatine his “Hippie Hill” retreat successful the mountains surrounding the capital, Kathmandu.

Kafle, who lives with HIV, said marijuana helped him header with symptom and kept him distant from intoxicant and different drugs.

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Marijuana usage is wide accepted successful Nepal. It was freely farmed and attracted Western hippies successful the 1960s and 1970s. However, unit from Western governments made Nepal present laws making marijuana and different narcotics illegal.

Some portraits of the astir revered Hindu god, Shiva, amusement him smoking marijuana. Devotees and Hindu beatified men are often seen smoking successful temples.

Marijuana plants often turn chaotic successful villages, but constabulary sometimes destruct plants grown connected farms for sale.

It is not hard to bargain marijuana successful cities, wherever determination are thousands of users.

“You tin spot everyone smoking successful Nepal from young kids to aged people," said Polish tourer Lukasz Walendziak.

Kafle and a coworker astatine his retreat were detained past period by constabulary and released connected bail but look narcotic organisation charges.

Under the law, anyone possessing marijuana for idiosyncratic usage tin beryllium jailed for a month, but organisation and income are punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment depending connected the magnitude of marijuana seized.

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Kafle said legalization of marijuana could payment the country's system by attracting tourists, adding that it was the accomplishment of hippies that brought tourists to Nepal.

“With our debased outgo of accumulation and the competitory borderline we person successful the planetary marketplace for cannabis, we surely are going to triumph and this is going to alteration the country," helium said.

The campaigners person convinced immoderate politicians of the benefits of legalizing marijuana.

Health curate Birod Khatiwada, a almighty subordinate of the governing coalition, has been lobbying for the projected measure and has registered for statement successful Parliament connected the issue. He said astir 9,000 radical are presently successful jailhouse connected marijuana-related charges.

“I americium trying to marque it a run and contented successful Parliament due to the fact that galore countries including the astir almighty and developed countries person allowed the usage of marijuana," Khatiwada said.

“The caller instrumentality would insure that the payment is not going to spell to 1 industrialist oregon tiny radical of businesspeople but alternatively it volition payment the mediocre farmers who would usage their tiny plots of onshore to turn it," helium said.

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