Chhattisgarh High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Permission to Cultivate Industrial Hemp

The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed a PIL filed by Dr. Sachin Ashok Kale seeking permission to cultivate industrial hemp/cannabis and establish a regulatory framework for its medicinal, industrial, and environmental use.

The Division Bench noted the rising narcotic abuse in the state and held that the petition was frivolous, lacked locus standi, and was not a genuine public interest litigation.

The Court emphasised that cannabis cultivation is regulated under the NDPS Act and falls within the legislature and executive’s domain. The court rejected the petitioner’s claims and dismissed the petition as a misuse of judicial process.