Odisha Declares 'Bhang' Intoxicant; Cannabis Derivative Is Culturally Cool In India (Photo @deepadoc)
In a consequential development, the Odisha government on Monday declared ‘Bhang’ illegal, stating it is an intoxicant. ‘Bhang’, though it derives from the cannabis plant, has been widely accepted in India due to its historical and cultural significance.
After categorizing ‘Bhang’ as an intoxicant, the state excise department issued an official notice in this regard, and the notification noted that the substance has the potential to produce symptoms of grandiosity, excitement, hostility, disorientation, hallucinations, and thought disorder.
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The notification said that the substance is made from the leaves or small stalks of the Indian hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) and is traditionally smoked, chewed, eaten, infused, or drunk, adding that it has now been declared an intoxicant under the state law.
While most countries consider all weed products illegal, India has a selective approach to the by-products of the cannabis plant. Bhang is historically acceptable in the country, which has been used with friends and family with social acceptance and legal backing.
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According to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, India criminalised the use of the fruit and flower of cannabis while excluding the leaves, which are used to make a Bhang paste. Thus, the sale and consumption of Bhang have been permitted under the law.
The Bhang is also associated with the Hindu religion, as it was preferred by Lord Shiva, the god of destruction. Shiva is said to have used Bhang for getting focus and enhancing his divine powers.
As per Hindu mythology, after a discord with his wife Parvati, Shiva left his abode. Travelling far, he slept while resting in a dense forest, and when he woke up hungry, he found some leaves under the tree where she was sleeping, and ate from them. Notably, it is believed that it was the leaves of the cannabis plant that were said to have revitalised and reinvigorated Shiva. Thus, the Bhang acquired a place in popular Indian culture, which was further promoted by Indian movies and songs.
