‘Wild weed to Himalayan gold’: CM Sukhu launches policy to cultivate industrial hemp

A central feature of the policy is the strict regulation of THC content below 0.3 per cent, ensuring the crop remains non-intoxicating and unsuitable for misuse. Sukhu said this scientific threshold would allow the state to fully exploit hemp’s fibre and seed potential while preventing abuse.

Following the Cabinet’s decision on January 24, 2025, a pilot project for controlled cultivation is set to be launched. The Chief Minister said the initiative would also address agrarian distress, as farmers are increasingly abandoning traditional crops due to damage caused by wildlife, including monkeys. Regulated hemp cultivation is expected to generate annual revenue ranging from Rs 1,000 crore to over Rs 2,000 crore once fully scaled, according to officials.

Premier institutions such as Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar (CSK) HPKV Palampur and Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, are developing region-specific, low-THC seed varieties. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who chaired a state-level committee on the issue, said the committee studied models in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh before recommending regulated cultivation for industrial, scientific and medicinal purposes.

Sukhu said the government’s “Hemp Hub” vision aims to create new opportunities for start-ups, youth employment and sustainable rural growth, while firmly asserting that the policy promotes industry, not addiction.