Hemp-based innovations, products unlocks Himachal’s latent potential

These entrepreneurs were among a dozen other participants from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Delhi who displayed their hemp-based innovations during the one-day event titled Seminar & Exhibition on Innovative Industrial & Medicinal Cannabis-Hemp Plant-Based Products. The event was inaugurated by Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi and concluded in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

“I am a qualified paediatric dentist. My husband and I launched Pi Hemp Pvt Ltd in 2021 after obtaining necessary approvals from the Ministry of AYUSH,” Dr Punhani told The Indian Express. “We use hemp seed extract to manufacture toothpaste under the brand Neti-Neti Oral Care. Our gum serum and toothbrushes, made from bamboo and coated with plant-based resin and neem oil, are designed to be eco-friendly. Initially, we wanted to use hemp oil for coating, but it was too expensive.”

Dr Punhani added, “The packaging is done in Himachal, while formulation and manufacturing take place in Raipurrani, Haryana. We collaborate with Him Care Lab for hemp oil, though only hemp seeds are FDA-approved; leaves and flowers are not permitted for use. Our research into hemp seed-based products, including biochar, was supported by IIT, Kanpur, and Pusa Krishi, Delhi.”

The startup launched its toothpaste in December 2023 with a 100g pack priced at Rs 199 (Rs169 on Amazon). “We’ve received a great response, particularly from Chandigarh, Delhi and Bengaluru, where I studied and spent over a decade before relocating to my hometown, Arki,” she said.

Discussing their work with biochar, Dr Punhani said, “We are exploring four raw materials: Lantana camara, pine needles, bamboo and hemp. Though we have received permission to use wild hemp for biochar production, the work is yet to begin. Many young people are interested in entering this sector, but the lack of awareness is holding them back. If we succeed, it will inspire others. We are currently operating out of Panchkula, but planning to shift our manufacturing to Himachal. We named our hemp seed-made toothpaste Neti-Neti, a term taken from Upnishadas to be taken to self-realisation.”

Chauhan of Him Care Lab, a Government of India-funded venture launched in November 2021, said, “We manufacture hemp seed-based products in Himachal Pradesh. For products made using extracts from hemp leaves and flowers, we rely on Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, where controlled cannabis cultivation is permitted under strict guidelines.”

He added, “There are barely a dozen startups like ours in the state. The scope is currently limited due to regulatory challenges. We procure hemp seeds from Uttarakhand, which is the largest market in the country. Our products are marketed under the brand Cannarma.”

Chauhan, who recently launched hemp cultivation under a joint venture in Uganda, said, “Himachal is lagging behind because we lack a policy to regulate hemp cultivation. For quality medicinal products, we need access to raw materials like seeds, leaves and flower extracts in a controlled manner. Ironically, the quality of wild hemp in Himachal is better than Uttarakhand, MP or J&K.”

Revenue and Horticulture Minister Negi, under whose purview a hemp committee has been constituted, said, “Himachal has enormous potential for hemp-based industries. While hemp seed-based product manufacturing is permitted in many parts of the country, including Himachal, progress is hampered by the unavailability of raw materials. So far, only a handful of entrepreneurs have entered this space. We are in the process of formulating a strict policy for the controlled cultivation of hemp for industrial and medicinal use.”

Haneesh Katnawer of Himalayan Hemp Industries Pvt Ltd and the Himalayan Hemp Research Foundation, both based in Kandarori, Kangra, said, “Our goal is to preserve native Himalayan varieties by creating essential products such as reusable hemp sanitary pads, hemp houses and nutritional supplements. We’ve been approved for Rs 1.5 crore in funding from BIRAC and AIM under the central government, but the funds have been delayed for two years. Despite that, we became the first company to win the National Startup Award for our patented hemp sanitary pads.”

“Our reusable pads are antibacterial and rash-resistant. I believe the Himachal government should adopt them to set a positive example for other states and promote safe, eco-friendly alternatives in rural areas,” Katnawer said, adding: “We are setting up our factory in Kandarori with sponsorship from Punjab National Bank.”

Himalayan Hemp Industries Pvt Ltd won the National Startup Award 2022-23 in the construction category.

During the Assembly session in September last year, the House passed a significant resolution to legalise cannabis cultivation, following the recommendations of an Assembly committee report. This decision follows the recommendations of a committee led by the Revenue Minister, who also chaired the Assembly’s panel on the subject. The idea was initially brought up in the Assembly under Rule 130, with support from both ruling and opposition members. A committee was then formed to explore the feasibility of cannabis cultivation, and the resolution was passed based on the panel’s findings. The committee studied the successful models in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The overwhelming consensus was in favour of legalising it in Himachal Pradesh.

Negi had highlighted the practicality of cannabis as a crop, noting it requires minimal water, is resistant to animal damage, and is largely disease-free. Industrial hemp will be drug-free, containing negligible levels of THC, while medicinal cannabis will be strictly regulated, similar to opium cultivation under the NDPS Act.