Hemp In India

Hemp in India has always been more than just a plant. It is woven into the very fabric of the country’s history - sacred, practical, and controversial all at once. Its history is as rich and colorful as the culture itself.

Long before it became a topic of modern debate, hemp was revered in ancient India. We’re talking about the Vedic period, around 1500 BCE. The Atharva Veda, one of Hinduism’s sacred texts, refers to hemp as one of the five sacred plants that could protect people from evil. Known as bhang, vijaya, or sana, it was considered a gift from the gods and used in religious rituals, medicine, and even as a tool for meditation.

Hemp also found a strong ally in one of Hinduism’s most revered gods, Shiva. According to legend, Shiva’s love forit began when, after a heated argument with his family, he wandered into the Himalayas to cool off. Exhausted, he collapsed under the shade of a leafy plant. When he awoke, he tasted the plant's leaves and was instantly rejuvenated, feeling a calmness and clarity like never before. This plant was cannabis, and from that day, it became Shiva’s favourite, helping him maintain balance and peace. Today, it still makes an appearance during religious festivals like Holi and Maha Shivaratri, with people paying homage to both Shiva and ancient traditions by consuming bhang - a drink made from cannabis leaves that is believed to bring people closer to enlightenment (or at least help them see things in a new light).

Fast-forward to the medieval era, and hemp’s role in India remained pretty solid. It wasn't just getting people spiritually high; it was a multi-tasker. From ropes and textiles to paper, hemp was indispensable. Even the Mughal Empire (16th-18th century) recognized its value, especially in traditional remedies.

Then came the British. Ah, the British - forever keen on studying, taxing, and, eventually, regulating everything they could get their hands on. In the 19th century, the British East India Company noticed the widespread use of hemp and decided to study its effects. Spoiler alert: They didn’t mind it too much. In fact, the famous Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894, after an extensive study, concluded that moderate use of hemp wasn’t particularly harmful. If anything, it was part of the cultural landscape. But of course, they taxed it. British rule meant that hemp was now not just a spiritual or medicinal aid but a commodity. Revenue generation was the order of the day, and while hemp was allowed to flourish, it was kept under a watchful colonial eye.

After India gained independence in 1947, hemp’s status became a little more complicated. The world was changing, and India was trying to figure out its place in it. Global pressure to curb drug use led to stricter regulations, and in 1985, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act put restrictions on hemp’s more psychoactive cousins - bhang, ganja, and charas. However, industrial hemp managed to stay on the right side of the law.

Despite these regulations, the cultural and medicinal use of hemp never really went away. In rural India and among spiritual communities, it’s still common to find hemp-based remedies, foods, and drinks being used, just as they have been for centuries.

Today, hemp is being embraced for its sustainability, its low environmental impact, and its potential to replace everything from cotton (which requires massive amounts of water) to plastics. What started as a sacred plant thousands of years ago is now a modern-day green superhero.

Industrial hemp can be used to make biodegradable plastics, clothing, paper, and even construction materials like hempcrete (yes, that’s a thing). States like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have already started legalizing hemp cultivation for industrial purposes, recognizing its potential to create jobs, boost the rural economy, and provide a sustainable alternative to less eco-friendly materials. The focus is on bringing hemp back into the mainstream, not just as a cultural relic, but as a crop for the future.

So, here we are in the 21st century, rediscovering what ancient India already knew - hemp is more than just a plant. It’s a solution. From its sacred roots to its industrial revival, hemp’s journey through India’s history is a testament to its resilience and versatility. In a world that’s finally waking up to the need for sustainable solutions, we believe its best days are still ahead.