Is Hemp Legal in Nepal?

Industrial hemp is not legally distinguished from cannabis in Nepal under current statute, though the policy debate is active. Nepalese politicians have introduced multiple bills to legalize industrial hemp and revisit the 1976 Act, citing economic and cultural arguments and the country's traditional use of allo and hemp fiber in the hills. None of these proposals has passed the Federal Parliament. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council have not licensed hemp cultivation pilots under the existing legal framework.

Cultivation of Cannabis sativa for any purpose remains prohibited under the 1976 Act. Penalties scale by plant count and biomass weight. Hemp fiber products such as the traditional Himalayan hemp textiles, sometimes marketed as bhang or allo, are sold domestically and to tourists, occupying a tolerated cultural niche, but commercial scaling and export typically run into legal and customs barriers. The Department of Customs may detain hemp goods that contain viable seed or measurable cannabinoid content.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.