Nepal court clears controlled cannabis cultivation

Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered the government to prepare rules for controlled cannabis cultivation and production, decades after the country banned the crop.

The framework would allow cultivation for medicinal, scientific, agricultural, horticultural and industrial purposes. The court also asked for wider consultations on recreational use.

The ruling was issued in May 2025, but its full text was released only this week after court documents were destroyed in a fire during September protests that toppled the government.

Saroj Adhikari, one of the petitioners, welcomed the verdict. Former health minister Birodh Khatiwada, who sponsored a related parliamentary motion in 2020, said regulated cultivation could create jobs, generate income and curb illegal trade.

Nepal revoked licences for cannabis dealers in 1973 under international pressure during a US-led campaign against drugs. Before that, Kathmandu had licensed shops selling hashish and attracted foreign backpackers.

Cannabis grows wild in Nepal, and its stems, leaves and resin have traditionally been used in food, textiles and traditional remedies. Marijuana dealers still face up to 10 years in prison, and police seize and destroy thousands of cannabis plants each year.