SHIMLA: Now that Uttarakhand has made cannabis cultivation legal, Himachal Pradesh politicians are also demanding that cannabis be legalized.Cutting across party lines, politicians from Kullu district have put forth their demand that restrictions should be removed on cultivation, processing and use of industrial and medical hemp in the state.They claim that it would not only boost farmers' income but would also discourage illegal cultivation. A writ petition is pending before the Himachal Pradesh high court and the state government has sought three month's time to take a decision.Congress MLA from Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur, said that Uttarakhand has already framed a policy while Himachal Pradesh is yet to take a decision. According to him, cannabis have immense medicinal and industrial usage."There is no reason why cannabis cultivation cannot be allowed once the crop is neutralised of its psychoactive effect. The modified plant could turn the fortune of people residing in the rural areas of state," said Thakur.The petition filed before the high court state that by reducing the content of THC (0.3 to 1.5 %), the plant would become unusable by the drug users as it diminishes the psychoactive effect of the drug.Senior BJP leader and former MP, Maheshwar Singh, said that the end product of the cannabis plants with proper regulation, sensitization and awareness, can be used for advancement of industrial economic growth and betterment of life of those who are suffering from cancer and neurological disorders.During last hearing held on October 29, advocate general Ashok Sharma sought three months' time to take a decision. The CM had said the government is weighing all available options.

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