Kathmandu- The Gandaki Provincial Assembly on Thursday passed the Bill on the Regulation and Management of Cannabis Cultivation, paving the way for the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.

Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital announced that the bill had been passed unanimously during the Assembly meeting.

Earlier, Minister for Industry and Tourism Yashoda Rimal tabled the proposal for discussion. Provincial Assembly members Ashok Shrestha, Ganeshman Gurung, Sushila Simkhada and Bindu Poudel took part in the deliberations.

With the bill's endorsement, Gandaki Province has opened the door to the regulated cultivation of cannabis for pharmaceutical and industrial production.

The legislation allows cannabis cultivation only in areas designated by the provincial government. It also stipulates that cannabis plants must contain less than 0.3 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound responsible for intoxicating effects.

Individuals and organisations seeking to cultivate cannabis will be required to obtain official permits. The bill also mandates chemical testing of cannabis plants before they can be harvested and sold.