Holi 2023: 5 things you need to know about bhang

Closely tied with the festival of Holi bhang has got a hued reputation due to its recreational usage According to lsquoThe Asian Cannabis Reportrsquo published in 2022 by Prohibition Partners around 15 million people consume bhang each year in India estimates based on official figures from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Government of Indiarsquos Magnitude of Substance Use in India For the longest time bhang has been considered a part of our culture yet there is uncertainty and concerns around legality content and impact Just in time for Holi celebrations we asked medical and industry experts to clear the air around bhang It is legalDelzaad Deolaliwala chairman of Pan India Medical Cannabis and Hemp Association explains ldquoAccording to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act this prohibited the manufacture and selling of cannabis resin and flowers but permitted the use of leaves and seeds allowing states to control the latter effectively avoiding the stigma of being labelled as contraband The act declared cannabis cultivation legal in India for industrial purposes such as producing industrial hemp or for horticultural use The NDPS now acknowledge cannabis as a source of highvalue oil biomass and fibrerdquoHe further clarifies ldquoBhang is not protected by the NDPS Act According to it the act only forbids the use of certain sections and cannabis plant preparations including hash resins produced from the plants or its buds The acts provide for the use of plant leaves which are the exact features that are used in BhangrdquoQuoting a previous case Deolaliwala shares ldquoIn the case of Arjun Singh v State of Haryana the Chandigarh High Court claimed that according to the NDPS Act bhang is not ldquocannabis hemprdquo under the Statute but is a cannabis plant Thus it is not unlawful to eat cannabis leaves under the rulerdquoIt is used in AyurvedaDr Bhupesh Vashisht chronic diseases specialist and founder of Aas Ayurveda says While some consume bhang as a holy offering in the form of prasad some consider it as a taboo bringing a narcotic effect Both aspects have their limited understanding and a large populace misses the bigger ambit of consuming bhang on the day of the Holi festival Bhang or Cannabis is considered one of the five sacred plants in Ayurveda and the single reason for consuming bhang on Holi is to digest the different kinds of delicacies and sweets made on Holi The carminative effects of bhang were not hidden from our sages and vaidyasrdquoIt has been a part of festive celebrations for yearsVashisht outlines ldquoIndia is the land of festivals and celebrations and every festival brings the consumption of specific foods and drinks Holi is one such festival where people consume Bhang or Cannabis sativa to celebrate this festival This has been ongoing for centuries as a holy ritual especially in the northern Indian statesDeolaliwala adds ldquoThe usage of bhang has cultural significance As a result of various connotations we see millions of Indians commonly consume it during auspicious days such as Holi and Maha Shivratri The taboo around bhang is primarily driven by historical western taboos around the Cannabis plant with global pressure resulting in India creating the NDPS Act 1985 However even after the creation of NDPS Act fortunately bhang has continued to remain outside it as decided by our lawmakers to pass such an exceptionTake QuizHow much do you know about the Indian festival HoliIt is not addictiveJahan Peston Jamas Cofounder BOHECO sharesldquoCannabis or hemp colloquially known as bhang in India has been a part of our culture for centuries Ayurvedic science is replete with uses of this plant for a variety of purposes but the limited knowledge and understanding of Cannabis along with the classification of the Cannabis flower and bud as a narcotic has contributed to the false notion that hempbased medicine may be addictive Hemp is known to have less than or equal to 0337 THC which is the intoxicating cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric effect as compared marijuana and therefore is nonaddictive and nontoxic Lack of awareness and misconception surrounding it however makes people hesitant to try it Apart from its cultural significance several studies illustrate that if taken in regulated doses it can prove to be beneficial for pain alleviation and mental wellbeingRegulated intake may lead to benefitsVashisht says Beyond recreational usage medicinal cannabis contains regularised and prescriptive dosages and quantities of Cannabidiol and THC a chemical compound that brings ecstasy This makes medicinal cannabis effective in dealing with myriads of medical conditions such as diabetes sleeplessness cancer hypertension and painful disorders to name a fewrdquoHe champions regulated usage as he insists ldquoIt is in public interest to overcome the taboo around bhang which promotes its only usage as a narcotic whereas casting a total shadow as a potent elixir the world is looking for over the use of synthetic drugsrdquoAlso ReadHoli 2023 Follow these recipes to innovate with traditional dishes