Chopra, who has 1.4 million followers on Twitter, first tweeted on Thursday evening, offering his reasons. “Firstly, it’s part of our culture. Secondly, I think if legalized and taxed it can be a huge revenue source. Not to mention it will remove the criminal element associated with it. Plus and most importantly it has a lot of medical benefits,” he said.
Although cannabis has traditionally been used in India, its cultivation is highly controlled and carried out in mainly the northern states. in his tweets, Chopra said, “…in Holi, Bhaang (similar to marijuana) has been used for centuries. Also, during Mahashivratri many sadhus smoke it in emulation of Shiva. Guess more religion than culture but the two are kind of inter-related.”
In fact, over the last few years, there has been a movement across the US to legalize the use of marijuana not only for medical but even recreational use: 29 states allow its medical use, while nine also allow personal use. Around 14 European countries, Israel, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico, Zambia and Zimbabwe allow its medical use. But the moot question is whether India will follow the world to allow wider use of marijuana.
Dr Altaf Patel, director of medicine at Jaslok Hospital and former professor from Grant Medical College in Byculla, pointed out that marijuana is milder and safer than alcohol. “There should be some sort of control, but it’s safe enough to be legalized for medical and personal use.’’
Dr Sripad Banavali, dean of academics at Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, said the marijuana movement across the world was “fizzling out’’. Another senior doctor said there were better formulations for medical pain management than narcotics.