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Should India legalise marijuana?

Two states in the US, California and Massachusetts have legalised marijuana. Aviva Mehta talks to Gen Z to find out if India should follow suit

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On November 2, 2016, Lok Sabha MP Dharamvir Gandhi announced that he had received clearance from Parliament to table a Private Member's Bill seeking to amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 to allow for the legalised, regulated, and medically supervised supply of "non- synthetic" intoxicants including cannabis and opium. India is one of the countries where marijuana is easily available, but is not entirely legalised. In fact, during a United Nations (UN) convention in 1961, India had actually lobbied against a carpet-ban on naturally grown-substances like cannabis or opium. This was also because these substances are used for religious and cultural purposes, in our country. For example, bhang is a derivative of the hemp plant, and is legally sold throughout the country, during the festival of Holi. Gen Z speaks up.

Marijuana should be legalised in India as well. It has a medicinal value, is a pain reliever, and is supposed to calm your nerves. I think students, especially from ages 16-24, who have so much stress because of their peers and career, should have access to marijuana. Also, marijuana definitely boosts your creative side, especially for literature students. It makes you more focused and attentive in general.
—Shyamosree Dasgupta, Kolkata

It's easy to say everything in moderation is fine, but once you start liking something so much, it's hard to stop doing it, no matter how 'normal' weed may seem. If we can't control it, at least we should be able to have a government authority who can, which is why it shouldn't be legal.
—Cymroan Vikas, 18, Mumbai

Marijuana should not been legalised at all, because it is technically still a drug. They say that legalising it would lead to less illegal activity, but that doesn't make sense because that's not the way to stop an illegal activity. Although, marijuana does have a positive side, yet this decision will definitely lead to an increase in the number of people smoking.
—Devi Dang, 15, Mumbai

I believe that there is a reason that people are asking for legalisation of marijuana. It does have medicinal properties and of course, the cultural effects are that everyone seems to think it's the new 'cool thing' to do. The problem with this generation is that nobody can really see past that. However, there must be some parameters to control its usage. While nothing should be banned excessively, and people should be given freedom and the benefit of doubt, there should still be certain boundaries. However, I think the USA should know that marijuana is the least of their concern, when there are school shootings and a problematic political system, focusing on marijuana is ridiculous.
—Evita Marie Marques, 18, Mumbai

I think this is definitely a wrong move. In the past few years, there has been a huge rise in substance abuse everywhere in the world. There is no good enough reason for marijuana to be legal. It has adverse health effects, and increases overall smoking and drug use. Also, it is a gateway drug, so drugs in general start to become very common and acceptable as more people start doing it if it becomes legal.
—Araash Mehta, 15, Mumbai

A lot of teenagers smoke marijuana, especially in the USA. We may not talk about it, but weed is a reality amongst teenagers. I maintain a neutral stance on this move because it should definitely have an age limit of around 18 or 21, because below that is just intoxication even though weed is supposedly 'different'. But I do not believe in banning it. At the end of the day, weed is still important for medical uses, to help with cancer, etc.
—Priyanka Paul, 17, Mumbai

I think weed should be legalised in India as well. It has medicinal values, and helps cure diseases like glaucoma. Apart from that, it is also really good for one's creativity, because design students, for example, would get many new ideas, and can think from a different perspective, and get ideas they may not have in a normal state. But I think it should be made accessible for 21 +.
—Aparajita, 20, Delhi

A lot of people, especially in art schools, do use marijuana regularly, but I definitely don't think it should be legal. Especially as a drug for pleasure, if it's being used for medicinal purposes then it's okay. Using marijuana for recreational purposes could lead to drug abuse, which is already happening today.
—Khushi Barjatya, 18, Bangalore

Honestly, many people think it's very beneficial, but I have seen, every person who excessively uses marijuana fails, looses motivation and drives on to do anything. It may be a stereotype that it's very addictive, but there are so many people who can only think about smoking up all the time. Doing it once in a while is okay, but doing it every single day is not. I don't think it should be legal, because as soon as weed is legal, it automatically becomes more accessible, and people start thinking it's completely fine to do it. It's like alcohol, people think it's okay because it's legal, and that's how teenagers start drinking at such a young age. I definitely wouldn't want my child to be able to go to a tobacco shop and buy weed there too.
—Nishi Panicker, 18, Mumbai

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