📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Flashthomsom
Crime
Jharkhand HC: Bhang Not Ganja, Man Arrested With 11kg Walks Free
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 07 Jul 2026, 05:33 AM
👁 5
The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that bhang is not a narcotic drug under the NDPS Act, leading to the release of a man arrested with 11 kilograms of the substance.
A man arrested with 11 kilograms of what was suspected to be a narcotic drug has been released following a significant ruling by the Jharkhand High Court. The court clarified that bhang, a derivative of cannabis, is distinct from ganja and does not fall under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
This judicial interpretation stems from the understanding that while both bhang and ganja are derived from the cannabis plant, the law specifically defines and prohibits ganja. The court's decision emphasizes the legal distinction between the two substances, impacting how cannabis-related materials are treated under Indian law.
The individual was apprehended with a substantial quantity of the substance, initially presumed to be illegal under drug control legislation. However, the High Court's intervention and subsequent clarification of the law have resulted in his freedom, highlighting a critical point in the legal framework concerning cannabis derivatives in India.
This judicial interpretation stems from the understanding that while both bhang and ganja are derived from the cannabis plant, the law specifically defines and prohibits ganja. The court's decision emphasizes the legal distinction between the two substances, impacting how cannabis-related materials are treated under Indian law.
The individual was apprehended with a substantial quantity of the substance, initially presumed to be illegal under drug control legislation. However, the High Court's intervention and subsequent clarification of the law have resulted in his freedom, highlighting a critical point in the legal framework concerning cannabis derivatives in India.