India is set to get its first medical cannabis-based project in Jammu, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday. The project is being developed within the framework of a public-private partnership model through a memorandum of understanding with a French company, with the aim of converting substances related to drug abuse into quality medicines for export.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Singh said that the cannabis plant, which is seen as a psychoactive drug, will now be used for “medical purposes”.
He added, “The goal is to manufacture pain-relieving drugs that can help treat cancer, diabetic neuropathy, and other serious diseases.”
The Union Minister described the project as a first-of-its-kind initiative, saying it would give India a “new identity” globally. “Export quality medicines will be produced and at the same time, (the project) will send a message that these intoxicants are not just for consumption but also possess many beneficial properties,” news agency PTI quoted Singh as saying.
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Singh also said that the project, which was mooted under the public-private partnership model through an MoU with a French company, is being taken forward by CSIR-IIIM.
He lauded Director CSIR-IIIM, Zubair Ahmed, and his team for reviving the dilapidated structure and turning it into a state-of-the-art facility.
“The place where we stand was a complete junk earlier. It has now been completely renovated and revived. A state-of-the-art building with new lifts and modern security features has been constructed,” Singh added.
Singh also stated that the foundation stone for the construction of another block has been laid for approx $55 crore, with a built-up area of about 8,000 sqm.
The structure will also be eco-friendly, the union minister said, adding that the new facility will be a “completely eco-friendly construction”, perhaps the first of its kind in Jammu.
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However, Singh also pointed out the legal and logistical challenges facing the implementation of this project. Pointing out that cannabis is classified as a narcotic substance, the union minister said that its cultivation and transportation “are restricted, and special licenses and permissions must be obtained.”
Singh said the project is now in its third phase, where tests and experiments are underway. He added: “After that, human trials will begin on patients, which will take some time.”
Singh praised CSIR-IIIM for its important role in scientific growth and entrepreneurship in India. He said that the institute is one of the oldest scientific institutes in the country, having been established even before independence.
This model, pioneered by IIIM, is now being replicated in several states, including Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Uttarakhand, the Union Minister said. Singh also mentioned that the initiative started in Bhaderwah district of Jammu, which has since gained global recognition.
