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{{Infobox organization
| name          = Great Legalisation Movement India
| image         = The Great Legalisation Movement India - Logo.jpg
| caption       = 
| formation     = November 2014
| type          = 
| status        = 
| purpose       = Legalisation of cannabis
| location      = India
| region_served = 
| website       = {{url|glm.org}}
}}

The '''Great Legalisation Movement India''' ('''GLM India''') is a non-profit organisation working to legalise the use of [[cannabis]] for medical and industrial purposes in [[India]]. It was founded in November 2014 by [[Viki Vaurora]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/Just-a-pipe-dream/article14466840.ece |title=Jayanthi Madhukar on a network of people who are calling for the legalisation of marijuana |work=The Hindu |date=2016-07-02 |accessdate=2016-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/medical-marijuana-battle-legalise-cannabis-call-finding-support/story-IL9c84WWSlns58sojUVPJK.html |title=Medical marijuana battle: 'Legalise cannabis' call finding support &#124; health and fitness |publisher=Hindustan Times |date= |accessdate=2016-12-10}}</ref> The social stigma associated with cannabis has long been prevalent among many communities in India. The campaign aims to educate people on the history and uses of cannabis and pave way for its legalisation to initiate a nationwide green industrial setup replacing thousands of ecologically damaging products with sustainable hemp-based alternatives.

==History of cannabis use in India==
{{Main article|Cannabis in India}}
Cannabis (Vijaya) has been used since ancient times in India, dating back to 2000 BCE.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Cannabis in India|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201106/history-cannabis-in-india|website=Psychology Today|accessdate=16 June 2011}}</ref> The cannabis plant has been mentioned as one of the five sacred plants in the [[Vedas]]. [[Bhang]], an edible preparation of cannabis consumed either in the form of a drink or smoked is common during the [[Hindu]] festivals of [[Holi]] and [[Mahashivaratri]].

==Legislation of cannabis==
India had no legislation on narcotic substances till 1985. On 14 November 1985, the Indian government banned the use of cannabis by passing the [[Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985]]. Under the act, it is illegal for a person to cultivate, possess, sell, purchase and consume narcotic and psychotropic substances. Violation of the law attracts a fine and/or imprisonment depending on the quantity of the banned substance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ignoring health; Infringing rights|url=http://www.lawyerscollective.org/files/Fact%20Sheet%20NDPS%20Act%201985.pdf|publisher=Lawyers Collective}}</ref> The act has come under criticism in the country, especially with the legalisation of cannabis in some US states.<ref>{{cite news|title=The joint campaign: Should we not legalize recreational use of Cannabis?|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-joint-campaign-Should-we-not-legalize-recreational-use-of-Cannabis/articleshow/17165613.cms|accessdate=10 November 2012|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Campaign==
GLM India planned to launch several campaigns across cities like [[Bengaluru]], [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]] and [[Pune]].<ref>{{cite news|title=City to host country's first 'Legalise Marijuana Meet'|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/City-to-host-countrys-first-legalise-marijuana-meet/articleshow/47088114.cms|accessdate=29 April 2015|publisher=Bangalore Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=India's First Medical Cannabis Conference Is Going To Visit 4 Cities This May|url=http://homegrown.co.in/indias-first-medical-cannabis-conference-is-going-to-visit-4-cities-this-may/|website=Homegrown}}</ref> The first Medical Cannabis Conference was held in Bengaluru on 10 May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gqindia.com/content/india-legalise-marijuana-gq-india/ |title=India legalise marijuana |publisher=GQ India |date=2015-07-17 |accessdate=2016-12-10}}</ref> Rick Simpson, a Canadian who has been using [[cannabis oil]] to treat medical conditions like cancer was the guest at the conference.<ref>{{cite news|title=Int'l cry to legalize marijuana reaches B'luru|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Intl-cry-to-legalize-marijuana-reaches-Bluru/articleshow/47227351.cms|accessdate=11 May 2015|work=The Times of India}}</ref> The conference in Mumbai had to be cancelled after the management of the venue withdrew permission to host the meeting.<ref>{{cite news|title=Medical cannabis conference cancelled after Mumbai college withdraws permission|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/medical-cannabis-conference-cancelled-after-mumbai-college-withdraws-permission/story-qGue2eSNkJ6TNOlK4AsAzJ.html|accessdate=15 June 2015|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

In 2018 the campaign started a web series titled ''The Gaanja Situation'' to encourage debate on the legalisation of cannabis for medical and industrial uses.<ref>{{cite web|url=
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/jan/02/glm-starts-web-series-to-debate-on-cannabis-legalisation-1742876.html|title=GLM starts web series to debate on cannabis legalisation|date=2 January 2018|work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Legality of cannabis by country]]
*[[Cannabis in India]]

==Further reading==
*[https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/neqppg/when-will-weed-marijuana-ganja-be-legalised-in-india When Will Weed Be Legalised in India], ''Vice'' (20 April 2018)
*[https://scroll.in/magazine/887593/a-silent-movement-for-the-legalisation-of-cannabis-is-spreading-across-india A silent movement for the legalisation of cannabis is spreading across India], ''Scroll'' (Sep 03, 2018)

== External Links ==

* [https://www.glm.org/ GLM India Website]
* [https://www.instagram.com/great.legalisation.movement/ GLM India Instagram]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Social movements in India]]
[[Category:Cannabis law reform organizations]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Cannabis in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2014]]
[[Category:2014 in cannabis]]