India must join other countries in decriminalising marijuana

There is evidence that these more potent forms of the drug are dangerous for young people with vulnerabilities to develop mental health disorders and this is why strict regulations must be part of any policy to legalise marijuana

Amidst the din of the US elections which has left a polarised nation even more divided, many have overlooked the fact that Americans did unite around one issue — getting stoned. Alongside the presidential election, the question of whether marijuana, which is available in various forms in India (ganja, charas and bhang), should be legalised for recreational or medicinal use was presented to voters in a number of states. Even if folks in New Jersey and Arizona disagreed with those in Montana and South Dakota as to who they preferred to be the President, they all agreed that getting wasted should be legal. Since 2012, when Colorado became the first state to approve the recreational use of marijuana, two-thirds of American states now allow its use for medicinal purposes, including 15 just for fun. And Americans, who were imprisoned for toking, can look forward to Biden’s presidency, not only because it…