Rajasthan, Odisha, MP Push Toward Hemp Legalisation in 2025: India’s Next Cannabis Hubs?
States roll out draft policies for medicinal and industrial hemp under AYUSH guidelines.
In 2025, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh advanced hemp legalisation policies, expanding India’s cannabis map for industrial and medicinal use. The move aims to create farmer opportunities, attract green investment, and align with AYUSH guidelines for low-THC cultivation in textiles, food, and Ayurveda.
India’s hemp revolution picked up pace in February 2025 as Rajasthan, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh drafted frameworks to allow regulated hemp cultivation. Officials cited AYUSH norms and growing global evidence of hemp’s role in sustainable industry and alternative medicine.
The proposed policies focus on low-THC hemp strains for textiles, plant-based nutrition, and Ayurvedic formulations, while ensuring strict compliance under the NDPS Act. Experts say these three states could soon emerge as hemp powerhouses, following the path carved by Uttarakhand’s 2018 legalization and Himachal’s 2025 pilot.
Industry leaders welcomed the developments, arguing that wider legalization will boost rural livelihoods, attract green investment, and expand India’s $11 billion hemp economy into new territories. For farmers, hemp offers a water-efficient, eco-friendly crop with significant export potential.
Reference
https://yourstory.com/2025/04/india-smedical-cannabis-policy-wellness-industry-hemp-products
