Should Punjab government legalise opium? Here's what leaders have to say

The first politician to endorse the demand to allow farmers to grow poppy and marijuana is former MP Dharamvira Gandhi.

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Should Punjab government legalise opium? Here's what leaders have to say
According to a study conducted in the state in 2015, there are nearly 2.33 lakh drug addicts in Punjab. (Photo: Reuters)

In Short

  • Recently Navjot Singh Sidhu said nothing wrong in legalising poppy
  • Suspended AAP MP Dharmvira Gandhi supported use of poppy as medicine and its cultivation be legalised
  • Punjab Police to probe alleged attempt made by Gandhi to sow poppy seeds as protest

Consuming opium and poppy husk is not considered bad in Punjab. It is called 'kali nagini ' (black female serpent) in the state and people from all walks of life consume it.

Interestingly, Punjab's politicians are now demanding that the cultivation of opium be legalised in the state. The first politician to endorse the demand to allow farmers to grow poppy and marijuana is Aam Aadmi Party's suspended Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi.

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He had not only introduced a private bill in Parliament in 2016 but had also demanded doses of poppy husk for the state's drug addicts by writing a letter to the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

However, Gandhi is in trouble as Punjab Police has now decided to probe the allegations that he allegedly tried to sow poppy seeds in Chappar area in Ludhiana recently as a mark of protest.

"The allegations are baseless. We did not sow poppy seeds but had thrown some seeds as a mark of protest. The absence of traditional drugs has compelled people to take lethal drugs like heroin. Traditional drugs like opium and marijuana should be decriminalised and be made available to the addicts which will reduce dependency on hard drugs" he said.

According to a study conducted in the state in 2015, there are nearly 2.33 lakh drug addicts in Punjab out of which 53 per cent use lethal drugs like heroin. Adulterated heroin and use of dangerous synthetic drugs have led to the deaths of dozens of addicts.

According to Gandhi, poppy cultivation could be the next cash crop in Punjab if legalised and can supplement the income of farmers who were committing suicide following crop failure.

Backing Gandhi, Local Bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has said that there is nothing wrong in legalising the poppy cultivation as his own uncle consumed it as a medicine. Besides Sidhu, senior Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has also backed Gandhi's demand to legalise poppy cultivation.

However, Sidhu's comment has given ammunition to the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal who believes that legalising poppy will further aggravate the situation in Punjab and the will increase the number of drug addicts.

READ| A legal hallucination

"Sidhu's statement is enough to prove that the state government has failed to curb the menace of drugs. The chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had promised to get rid of the drugs within a month, now his cabinet colleague is demanding legalisation of poppy cultivation. The chief minister should explain how poppy cultivation and its easy availability will end the addiction," Akali Dal spokesperson Daljeet Cheema said.

However, backing Sidhu, Captain Amarinder Singh has demanded a national drug policy to save the young generation, saying a comprehensive formula is needed at the central level to effectively check drug abuse.

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"I was happy that this issue had again come up for discussion and expressed the hope that the matter would now be resolved once and for all. The national policy could also address the need for cultivation of drugs needed for the pharmaceutical industry, said Captain Amarinder Singh.

He said that the centre should involve states and experts while formulating such a policy.

READ| 'Decriminalise consumption of drugs to cure Udta Punjab'

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