Team Herald
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday gave an assurance to the House that the government will not move ahead with the move to allow cannabis plantation in the State
The CM’s reply was given following a calling attention moved by Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, Ponda MLA Ravi Naik, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro, Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgonkar, Marcaim MLA Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, and Siolim MLA Vinod Palyekar.
The calling attention moved by the MLAs said “there is fear and anxiety in the minds of the public at large regarding the attempts by the Government to legalise the production of cannabis in the State of Goa, which is being used as a narcotic drug and banned under Narcotic Substance Law. The decision of the Government will convert Goa into a Drug Destination.”
“I have already made a statement that the government will not go ahead with cannabis plantation. The file was moved following the Central institution recommendation. I assure the House the government will not go ahead with the file,” he said.
He said that as the relevant rules of the Goa Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1987 which as of now, prohibit the cultivation of cannabis plant, and in order to form the policy for cultivation and production of cannabis for medical purposes, the Office of Commissioner for Excise vide Note No.CE/11-04/2018-19/Exc./1606 dated 22/09/2020 has proposed for necessary amendment to the Rules of Goa Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1987.
“As per the proposed amendment by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration, the Department of Excise shall regulate and control the cultivation of cannabis plant for medicinal or scientific use. Accordingly, based on the above proposal from the Office of Commissioner for Excise, the draft amendment to the Rules of Goa Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1987 has been proposed for cultivation of cannabis plant for medicinal or scientific use only,” he said.
Sawant stated that the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu is a National Institute under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of the Government of India with primary focus on new drug discovery from natural products.
“Requests have been received from a large number of hospitals from all over the country where clinicians need cannabis-based botanical drugs for validating the medical claims of curing chronic pain in cancer, neuropathic pain and epilepsy and spasticity in children and adult patients with multiple sclerosis. CSIR-IIM has requisite permissions from J&K Government and State Excise Department to cultivate cannabis for R&D purposes as well as conduct various R&D activities on it with a view to find cannabis based drugs to cure various forms of illness,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that cannabis has shown to have great promise in the field of medicine, especially for serious or life threatening diseases and conditions.
“A substantial amount of scientific literature exists which makes a strong case for use of cannabis for medical purposes. Section 10(2)(c) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 read with Section 8, states that the State Government shall have the powers to permit and regulate Cannabis within the concerned State,” he says.
Presently, he added, the Government of Uttarakhand has granted the permission for cultivation of cannabis only for industrial purposes. Farmers will have to get a licence by the Excise department to grow cannabis. Besides, the J & K Government has permission to cultivate cannabis for R&D purposes as well as conduct various R&D activities on it.
“As of now, the matter is under examination with the Law Department (Legal Affairs),” he said.
Vijai criticises govt
Earlier, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai recalled that on December 28, on a local media channel he had said that the Govt has moved a file to legalise ganja cultivation in the State. He recalled how the next day Sawant said that the file is moved but that the government has not taken any decision. After that another cabinet minister said that the file was moved by the Health dept and the law dept has approved it. Sardesai further said that on December 31, he filed an RTI, seeking the details of the file and reply was given that file number 13/28/2020-I/PHD is under submission to govt. “Now this is completely contradicting to what Chief Minister said, we need transparency in this matter and as members of this august house it is our right” said Vijai
He then demanded that the CM places the file on the floor of the house to ensure transparency in the dealings of the government.
“When casinos were brought in a decade ago, a gaming commission was promised, but till date gaming commissioner is not been appointed by the govt,” Vijai quipped.
He also recalled that earlier, the CM felicitated Dr Mashelkar and his vision was to make Goa a culture capital, a heritage capital, a knowledge hub and knowledge economy. “But with ganja, we are going to become a Sin City. My daughter used to study in Vancouver which is the second best city in the world and there is a place called Downtown Eastside. This city allowed cannabis illegally and the city went on to become the red light district and this is what happens when you don't have a regulatory mechanism in place, said Vijai.
He further added that Israel allowed cultivation of hemp (marijuana) for farmers. “Do you (CM) have the same idea to make our farmers "Swayampurna" with cannabis? One gram of dried floret costs around 3 dollars, so it is huge money but at what cost. As parents, do we want our children to get access to drugs this easily” asked Vijai.