New Delhi: Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has suggested legalising marijuana, a psychoactive drug, in India for medical purposes on the lines of the practice adopted by some developed countries like the US to curb drug abuse.

The suggestion was made by Gandhi at a meeting of a group of ministers, which examined the draft cabinet note National Drug Demand Reduction Policy, according to the minutes of the second meeting.

The GoM approved the draft national policy with minor modifications suggested in the meeting. Gandhi told the congregation that “some of the developed countries like the US, marijuana has been legalised which ultimately results in less drug abuse”.

During the meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gandhi also stressed on the need for regulating the sale and availability of pharmaceutical drugs such as codeine cough syrups and inhalants among others which are being abused.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary G Latha Krishna Rao however said “it may not be appropriate to legalise such drugs” in view of the large population and low level of literacy in the country.

Meanwhile, the WCD Ministry is also likely to seek repealing of a six-decade-old adoption law after concerns over its misuse for child trafficking, a senior official said.

While the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 allows every Indian, regardless of religion, to adopt. Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains can adopt children under the Hindu Maintenance and Adoption Act, 1956.

Under HAMA, a parent or a guardian can give a child for adoption to any Hindu male or female without any court order. However, under the JJ Act, 2015, there are several safeguards to ensure the wellbeing of a child.