Marijuana was banned after foreigners threatened to withhold assistance: Finance Minister Mahat

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr. Prakasharan Mahat revealed that cannabis was banned in Nepal after foreign countries threatened to stop aid.

Responding to the question raised in the Parliament about the budget on Monday, the Finance Minister said that Nepal banned on cannabis fearing the Foreign Aid could decline.

“Nepal banned on marijuana after many countries supporting with foreign aid threatened to stop the aid,” Dr. Mahat said, adding, “Now those countries have relaxed the laws and permitted cannabis for ‘medical’ purposes and are making good profit from it.”

He added that there was no point in the continuation of the ban as Nepal also can use it in various ways.

Finance Minister Mahat urged the lawmakers to cooperate through further study and research.