Delhi HC Review Offers Opportunity for Smarter Cannabis Regulation, Says Consumer Group
New Delhi, 29 June 2026 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) says the Centre’s upcoming review of India’s cannabis laws, following directions from the Delhi High Court, presents an opportunity to adopt a more evidence-based and consumer-focused approach to regulation while strengthening safeguards around medical, scientific, and industrial use.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union government to undertake stakeholder consultations and examine whether provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act relating to cannabis require relaxation for legitimate purposes. The review, expected to culminate in a policy decision by July, comes amid growing debate over whether India’s existing framework adequately reflects changing scientific evidence, consumer realities, and international developments.
Shrey Madaan, Indian Policy Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, said:
“The question is no longer whether cannabis exists in India, it clearly does. The real question is whether consumers are better served by an unregulated market or by a modern framework that prioritises safety, transparency, and accountability.”
CCC notes that India already permits certain forms of cannabis use for medical, scientific, industrial, and horticultural purposes, while states such as Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh have moved to encourage hemp and medicinal cultivation. However, the broader regulatory framework remains fragmented, creating uncertainty for consumers, researchers, farmers, and legitimate businesses.
The organisation argues that clear and predictable rules are essential to supporting medical research, industrial innovation, and safer consumer access while maintaining appropriate safeguards against misuse and underage consumption.
“Good regulation protects consumers without unnecessarily restricting choice,” Madaan added. “A framework that distinguishes between medical applications, scientific research, industrial cultivation, and recreational misuse would be more effective than treating every use case identically.”
CCC also notes that international experience offers important lessons for policymakers. Several jurisdictions that have adopted regulated cannabis frameworks have reported stronger age-verification mechanisms and no corresponding surge in youth consumption, suggesting that well-designed regulation can often provide better consumer protections than unregulated markets.
The organisation emphasises that modernisation does not require abandoning public-health safeguards. Instead, it requires policies that are proportionate, evidence-based, and responsive to existing consumer behaviour and market realities.
The Consumer Choice Center urges policymakers to use the High Court-mandated review to strengthen consumer protection, expand opportunities for medical and scientific innovation, and provide greater regulatory clarity while maintaining robust safeguards against abuse.
“Modern drug policy should be judged by whether it improves public health and protects consumers,” Madaan concluded. “This review offers an opportunity to move beyond outdated assumptions and build a framework that reflects today’s evidence, today’s technology, and today’s realities.”