India
Is Hemp Legal in India?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
August 6, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is legal to cultivate in India under state-issued licenses, with Uttarakhand opening the country's first commercial program in July 2018 and Himachal Pradesh authorising a pilot framework following a 2024 state assembly resolution. The legal hook is Section 10 of the NDPS Act, which lets state governments permit cultivation of the cannabis plant excluding charas, provided THC stays at or below 0.3%. Applications go to the District Magistrate with land records, a character certificate, storage proof, and an undertaking.
Hemp food products are separately regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Fifth Amendment Regulations, 2021 added Standard 2.16 covering hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, and hemp seed flour. Products must contain no more than 0.3% THC and no more than 75 mg/kg CBD. Labels cannot carry CBD nutrient or health claims, cannot show any cannabis plant part other than the seed, and cannot use the words cannabis or marijuana. Sales targeted at children under 24 months are barred outright.
Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
India
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.3% THC in cultivated plant; 0.3% THC and 75 mg/kg CBD ceiling in food products
Regulator
State governments (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh); Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Key regulation
NDPS Act, 1985 Section 10; FSSAI Fifth Amendment Regulations 2021 (Standard 2.16)
Effective
July 1, 2018
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Limited
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Hemp seed, hemp seed oil, and hemp seed flour may be imported as food provided they meet FSSAI Standard 2.16, including the 0.3% THC and 75 mg/kg CBD ceilings, and clear Customs with the required certificates of analysis. Importers also need a valid FSSAI license and, where the cultivated source is on the NDPS schedule, prior authorization from the Central Bureau of Narcotics. Hemp fibre and seed for non-food industrial use follow standard customs procedures.
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