Nepal’s Gandaki Province Legalizes Medical Cannabis Farming Despite National Ban

Nepal’s Gandaki Province has introduced a landmark provincial law allowing the licensed cultivation and medical use of cannabis, even though marijuana remains prohibited under the country’s national legislation.

The new law permits farmers in Gandaki Province to grow cannabis for approved medical purposes. However, cultivation will not be open or unrestricted. Farmers will need to obtain formal permission from provincial authorities, and licensed farms are expected to remain under close government supervision.

The development marks an important change in Nepal’s cannabis policy. Cannabis grows naturally in several areas of the Himalayan nation and has historically been connected with local culture, traditional practices and Hindu religious festivals.

Provincial Legalization Versus Nepal’s National Ban

One of the most significant aspects of the Gandaki law is its apparent conflict with Nepal’s nationwide cannabis prohibition. Under existing national rules, the cultivation, possession, distribution and sale of marijuana remain illegal.

According to the reported legal framework, possessing cannabis for personal use may result in imprisonment, while distribution and commercial sale can attract substantially longer prison sentences depending on the quantity involved.

Gandaki’s provincial government is therefore creating a controlled medical cannabis system within a country that has not yet fully legalized the plant at the federal level. The practical relationship between the provincial legislation and national enforcement will likely become one of the most closely watched parts of the policy.

Key point: The law allows regulated medical cannabis cultivation and use in Gandaki Province, but it does not represent nationwide cannabis legalization across Nepal.

Why Gandaki Province Is Important

Gandaki is one of Nepal’s seven provinces and includes Pokhara, one of the country’s best-known tourism destinations. The province is also known for Himalayan mountain routes, trekking regions, agriculture and rural communities that may potentially benefit from regulated medicinal-cannabis farming.

A properly controlled cannabis industry could create new agricultural opportunities, support medical research and encourage the development of regulated cannabis-based products. However, its success will depend on licensing standards, product testing, crop monitoring, patient access rules and coordination with national authorities.

Cannabis and Nepalese Culture

Marijuana was once openly associated with Nepal’s cultural and spiritual identity. During the annual Maha Shivaratri festival, some Hindu devotees traditionally consume cannabis in honour of Lord Shiva. Authorities have often tolerated limited religious use around temples during the festival.

Nepal later prohibited cannabis as international drug-control policies expanded during the twentieth century. Since then, activists, farmers and policy advocates have repeatedly called for reforms that would recognize the plant’s traditional importance and possible medical and economic value.

What Happens Next?

The implementation of the Gandaki law will now be crucial. Provincial authorities will need to establish a transparent system for issuing permits, monitoring farms and ensuring cannabis is supplied only through authorized medical channels.

The decision may also increase pressure on Nepal’s national government to clarify its cannabis policy. If Gandaki successfully establishes a safe and accountable medical market, other provinces may consider similar reforms.

For now, the move represents a major regional experiment: a Nepalese province is attempting to build a legal medical cannabis framework while the plant remains prohibited under national law.

Original source:

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Nepal’s Gandaki Province Legalizes Medical Cannabis Farming and Use

Reference: Associated Press report published by U.S. News & World Report on August 5, 2026. This article is an independently written summary and analysis of the reported development.

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