Criminalisation of Cannabis Vis-A-Vis Liberty

The article intends to examine, with the help of doctrinal method, the utility of India?s strict penal policies against cannabis in the light of various contemporary issues. India Criminalized cannabis under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 pursuant it?s international commitment as a signatory to three United Nation?s drug conventions. The primary objective behind criminalization was to reduce the incidences of drug abuse. But the experience from the past few decades has been that such law is producing more harm than it actually prevents. Criminalization of cannabis not only violates individual?s right to autonomy and self determination but also creates numerous other issues like increasing the incidences of incarceration, economic stress on the legal system, hindrance to medical research, etc.