Finance Minister leads initiative to explore medicinal and industrial uses of cannabis

KATHMANDU: The government has established a task force with the purpose of conducting a comprehensive assessment regarding the potential cultivation of cannabis. This initiative was set into motion during a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, chaired by Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Finance Minister.

The task force comprises members from various key government entities, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Joint Secretaries from the Ministries of Finance, Industry, Law, Foreign Affairs, and Nepal Police, as well as a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture who will be overseeing the group’s activities under the coordination of the Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Finance Minister, has provided guidance and directives to this task force.

The primary objectives of this task force include investigating the potential medicinal applications of cannabis and assessing the feasibility of industrialization related to cannabis. Additionally, the working group will embark on a research endeavor to explore the possibility of producing clothing using various components of hemp, such as its stalks, leaves, and fibers.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Prakasharan Mahat, initially expressed his intention to explore the prospects of cannabis cultivation when presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2080-81.