Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after the Law Department had accorded its in-principle clearance to the proposal to make the cultivation of marijuana (cannabis) for medicinal purposes a legitimate activity, and before Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had announced that the government was for the present dropping the plan of permitting the cultivation of the plan, Cabinet Ministers as well as MLAs from the ruling dispensation had cautioned the government over its possible misuse for narcotic consumption.
Members of the ruling dispensation had urged the government to be cautious and ensure proper measures so that the cultivation is restricted to medicinal purposes.
Speaking to media persons, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar had said the government should undertake a proper study of whether cannabis is really useful for medicinal purposes or not. “Finally, it is a question of health. A proper study has to be undertaken in consultation with medical experts,” he had said.
Ajgaonkar had said it is too early to comment whether such a move will impact tourism or give further rise to the drug trade in the State. He had, however, maintained that precautions will have to be taken to avoid “misuse”.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had said the government will have complete control over the proposed cannabis cultivation. “The matter will be discussed in detail in the cabinet. Government will ensure that cannabis cultivation is strictly for medicinal purpose and there is no diversion,” he had said.
Mandrem MLA and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) chairman Dayanand Sopte had said that since he is part of the government, he cannot oppose it but it involves a risk.
He had added, “Currently, cannabis is considered a drug and those found with it are arrested and put behind bars. Now we want to make cannabis cultivation a legal activity for medicinal purpose. We will have to take care and ensure that the cultivation is not misused for the purpose of drug consumption.”
Sopte had said that there is every possibility that to mint more money, those into cultivation, may sell it for drug trade. “Government will have to work out mechanism to stop this,” he had said.
