Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Wants Marijuana Legal In India!
After a few Indian politicians backed cannabis research and legalization of marijuana in the country, Yoga Guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurveda is now intensifying studies on the plant’s medicinal and industrial properties.
“In Ayurveda, since ancient times, parts of cannabis have been used for medicinal purposes. So, we are looking at various formulations. We should ponder over the benefits and positive uses of the cannabis plant,” chief executive Balkrishna told reports.
Patanjali’s Research & Development Centre in Haridwar, with its team of some 200 scientists, is exploring the benefits of close to 200 indigenous Indian plants and their medicinal uses.
Patanjali has challenged many multinational companies in the past selling Ayurveda-based products such as toothpaste, face wash, hair oil, detergent, etc.
The United States, where cannabis is legal in some states, already has a burgeoning $8 billion cannabis economy. In Canada, where medicinal marijuana is legal, cannabis sale accounts for as much as 0.2 percent of the GDP.
According to a recent study by Israel-based marijuana firm, Seedo, Delhi, and Mumbai were among the top ten cities with the highest consumption of marijuana.
At a TEDx event, held recently in Panchkula, Balkrishna said seeds of the plant were used, the fiber could be used for clothes, and the plant's controlled cultivation could help India raise a new industry altogether. "By criminalizing marijuana, we are denying a full-fledged business opportunity to our people," he said.
-PTC News
