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Crime
Jharkhand HC Rules Bhang Not Covered Under NDPS Act
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 02 Jul 2026, 11:16 PM
👁 3
The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that bhang, a preparation derived from cannabis, is not covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The court clarified that only cannabis resin and seeds are prohibited substances.
The Jharkhand High Court has delivered a significant ruling stating that bhang is not prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. This decision clarifies the legal status of the widely consumed preparation derived from the cannabis plant.
The court's interpretation specifies that while cannabis resin and seeds fall under the Act's purview, bhang itself is not explicitly listed as a prohibited substance. This distinction is crucial for understanding the legal framework surrounding cannabis products in India.
This legal interpretation by the Jharkhand High Court is expected to have implications for the regulation and possession of bhang across the state and potentially influence similar cases in other jurisdictions. The ruling focuses on the specific definition of prohibited substances within the NDPS Act.
The court's interpretation specifies that while cannabis resin and seeds fall under the Act's purview, bhang itself is not explicitly listed as a prohibited substance. This distinction is crucial for understanding the legal framework surrounding cannabis products in India.
This legal interpretation by the Jharkhand High Court is expected to have implications for the regulation and possession of bhang across the state and potentially influence similar cases in other jurisdictions. The ruling focuses on the specific definition of prohibited substances within the NDPS Act.