A prayer to legalise the Shiva plant
What began with five people in Mumbai talking about the medical uses of cannabis, or marijuana, three years ago is now a 100-member group that is part of a worldwide movement for the legalisation of the plant.
On December 17, members of the group walked five kilometres from Gateway of India to Chowpatty beach to draw support for their cause. Another walk is scheduled on January 7. Two weeks ago, the Delhi-based founder of The Great Legalisation movement (GLM), Viki Vaurora, wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to legalise hemp, the leaves of which is the source of cannabis, for medicinal, industrial and recreational purposes.
Dhaval Panchal, an event manager from Mumbai, said he found out cannabis oil is cancer medicine when his father had the disease. When his father was given a dose of the oil, he experienced less pain and could sleep better. “By the time I found out about it, it was too late as my father had already undergone 12 chemotherapy sessions. I wish I had known earlier. But now I am trying to spread awareness,” he said.
Akshay Shetty said the hardest task for the group is to change mindsets. Though half the youth understand the benefits of cannabis, they face opposition from society. “There are doctors too who understand that cannabis can be used for medicinal purposes, but won’t let us speak about it in hospitals because it is banned in the country,” said Shetty.
Vaurora says he has been able to help more than 100 patients through hemp oil since 2014. “The plant we want to legalise is called the Shiva plant. It has been spoken about in our mythology as well. Womething that has been a part of culture for the longest time, what’s the point of banning it,” Vaurora asks.
MUMBAI: