Legalizing Cannabis Cultivation and Decriminalizing Drug Use

According to reports, Himachal Pradesh is considering joining Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh in legalising cannabis growing. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 made it illegal to grow marijuana and use other drugs in India, which led to lengthy pre-trial detention, stigmatisation of users, and slim chances for rehabilitation. A focus on public health could lessen the burden on the criminal justice system while addressing drug addiction.

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis, a psychoactive substance derived from the Cannabis plant and known by a number of other names, is generally used for therapeutic or recreational purposes.

The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD).

It is used by smoking, vaporizing, within the food, or as an extract.

Prospects of legalizing Marijuana

Health benefits:

The cannabinoids found in Cannabis is a great healer and has found mentioned in Ayurveda.

It can be used to treat a number of medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, insomnia, HIV/AIDS treatment, and cancer.

Ecological benefits:

The cannabis plant and seeds apart from being labelled a super-food as per studies is also a super-industrial carbon-negative raw material.

Each part of the plant can be used for some industry. Hemp currently is also being used to make bio-fuel, bio-plastics and even construction material in certain countries. The cosmetic industry has also embraced Hemp seeds.

Marijuana is addiction-free:

An epidemiological study showed that only 9% of those who use marijuana end up being clinically dependent on it.

The ‘comparable rates’ for tobacco, alcohol and cocaine stood at 32%, 15% and 16% respectively.

Good source of Revenue:

By legalizing and taxing marijuana, the government will stand to earn huge amounts of revenue that will otherwise go to the Italian and Israeli drug cartels.

In an open letter to US President George Bush, around 500 economists, led by Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, called for marijuana to be “legal but taxed and regulated like other goods.

A potential cash crop:

The cannabis plant is something natural to India, especially the northern hilly regions. It has the potential of becoming a cash crop for poor marginal farmers.

If proper research is done and the cultivation of marijuana encouraged at an official level, it can gradually become a source of income for poor people with small landholdings.

Prohibition was ineffective:

In India, the consumption of synthetic drugs like cocaine has increased since marijuana was banned, while it has decreased in the US since it was legalized in certain states.

Moreover, these days, it is pretty easy to buy marijuana in India and its consumption is widespread among the youth. So it is fair to say that prohibition has failed to curb the problem

Marijuana is less harmful:

Marijuana consumption was never regarded as a socially deviant behaviour any more than drinking alcohol was. In fact, keeping it legal was considered as an enlightened view.

It is now medically proven that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.

All you need to know about Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is an Indian law that prohibits the production, manufacture, possession, transportation, sale, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The Act was enacted in response to the US-led global war on drugs in the 1970s.

The NDPS Act has been amended several times since its enactment, with the most recent amendment being in 2014.

The Act defines different categories of drugs and prescribes different punishment for different offenses.

The Act has been criticized for its strict provisions, especially for small-scale drug users, who are often imprisoned and face difficulty accessing rehabilitation and de-addiction centers. In recent years, there have been calls for decriminalizing small-scale drug use and treating drug consumers as victims rather than offenders.

Why criminalizing drug users is not a good option?

Pre-trial incarceration and stigmatization: Criminalization means long pre-trial incarceration and stigmatization of drug users, who are often from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds.

Lack of access to de-addiction centres: Many drug users lack access to de-addiction centres, which makes their rehabilitation difficult.

Difficulty in rehabilitation: Putting drug users behind bars makes their rehabilitation difficult and exposes them to the risk of becoming peddlers.

Overburdened criminal justice system: Over-criminalisation of drug users clogs already burdened courts and adds to the workload of overworked investigating agencies.

Squandering public resources: Public resources that could have been deployed to set up a robust rehabilitation network are squandered away in the process.

Ineffective in deterring drug use: Criminalisation was intended to deter the use of drugs. However, drug dependence has increased over the years across the world.

Undermining social well-being: The over-criminalisation of drug users undermines their social well-being, which perpetuates the cycle of addiction and crime.

Steps to address the negative impact of criminalizing drug users

Decriminalization: The government should consider decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal consumption, as recommended by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This will treat drug users as victims rather than culprits and facilitate their rehabilitation.

Public health approach: The government should adopt a public health approach to address drug use as a public health issue. This involves providing healthcare services to drug users, focusing on their well-being and rehabilitation, rather than just punishing them.

Differentiating between peddlers and consumers: The government should differentiate between drug peddlers and drug consumers and take different approaches to dealing with them. While drug peddlers should be punished, drug users should be treated as victims and provided with rehabilitation services.

Setting up a robust rehabilitation network: The government should allocate resources to set up a robust rehabilitation network for drug users. This will help address the root cause of drug use and reduce its negative impact on society.

Public awareness campaigns: The government should conduct public awareness campaigns to educate people about the negative impact of drug use on health and well-being. This will help reduce the demand for drugs and prevent drug use among the population.

Smart Meters to Bring a Revolution in the Power Sector

To revolutionise the power industry, India is replacing traditional electric metres with pre-paid smart metres. The bulk of smart metre users have started to take use of some technological advantages. But some of the challenges that must be overcome include the slow adoption of smart metre apps and the lack of access to comprehensive electricity bills.

How do Smart Metres work?

Smart metres are digital electricity metres of the next generation that assess energy consumption and transmit that data back to the utility provider very instantly.

Unlike traditional electric meters that require manual reading, smart meters automatically send readings to the utility company, enabling a two-way communication between the meter and the utility.

A study on Smart Meters

A recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) found that the majority of smart meter users have already begun to experience some of the technology benefits.

The study covered about 2,700 urban households that use prepaid or postpaid smart meters across six States.

Half the users reported improvements in billing regularity, and two-thirds said paying bills had become easier.

Around 40% of users alluded to multiple co-benefits such as a greater sense of control over their electricity expenses, a drop in instances of electricity theft, and improved power supply to the locality.

In fact, 70% of prepaid smart meter users said they would recommend the technology to their friends and relatives.

These findings give confidence that India’s smart metering transition is heading in the right direction.

Advantages of Smart Meters over traditional electric meters

Accurate billing: Smart meters enable accurate billing as they eliminate the need for estimated bills, providing customers with accurate and transparent information about their energy usage.

Near real-time data: Smart meters provide near real-time data on energy consumption, enabling customers to monitor their usage and make informed decisions about their energy consumption.

Dynamic pricing: Smart meters have the potential to enable dynamic pricing, where electricity tariffs vary depending on the time of day, season or other factors, incentivizing customers to use energy when it’s cheaper and reducing demand during peak hours.

Improved energy management: Smart meters allow utilities to better manage energy supply and demand, reduce power outages, and integrate renewable energy sources more effectively.

Energy theft detection: Smart meters can help detect and respond to energy theft, reducing losses for utilities and ensuring a fair distribution of energy costs.

Customer control: Smart meters provide customers with more control over their energy consumption, allowing them to better manage their energy usage and reduce their bills.

Challenges in the Smart Meter Deployment

High installation costs: The upfront cost of installing smart meters can be significant, and may be a barrier to adoption for utilities or customers.

Technical challenges: Installing and integrating smart meters into existing grid infrastructure can be technically complex, requiring significant upgrades to communication networks and other equipment.

Data privacy and security: Smart meters collect and transmit sensitive customer data, raising concerns about data privacy and security.

User adoption: Encouraging customers to adopt smart meters can be a challenge, particularly if they are unfamiliar with the technology or if there is a lack of education around the benefits of smart meters.

Interoperability: Ensuring that smart meters are interoperable with different communication protocols and standards can be a challenge, particularly in areas with multiple utility providers.

Regulatory challenges: The regulatory environment can also be a challenge, particularly if regulations around smart meters are unclear or if there is resistance from stakeholders such as utility providers or consumer groups.

Ways to improve smart meter deployment

Education and awareness: Utilities and governments can run awareness campaigns to educate customers about the benefits of smart meters, and how they can help reduce energy consumption and save money. These campaigns should target different socio-economic groups, and provide actionable tips and information on how to use smart meters to their advantage.

Co-ownership and collaboration: Utilities and government bodies should collaborate to ensure a smooth installation and recharge experience for users, and leverage smart meter data for revenue protection and consumer engagement. Discoms (distribution companies) should take the driving seat and co-own the program with Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs) who are responsible for installing and operating the AMI system.

Rail Vikas Nigam gets Navratna Status

The Ministry of Railways recently bestowed Navratna status on Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Regarding RVNL

In order to efficiently complete rail infrastructure projects and raise additional budgetary funds for SPV projects, RVNL was founded in 2003.

After the company’s board of directors was elected, business operations commenced in 2005.

In 2013, RVNL received Mini-Ratna status.

RVNL’s activities

The whole project lifecycle, including project development and execution, have been delegated to RVNL.

The company will create project-specific SPVs for individual works if required.

RVNL will hand over completed railway projects to the concerned zonal railway for operation and maintenance.

Major projects undertaken

RVNL has implemented various projects in the rail sector, including:

Doubling and electrification of existing lines

Construction of new lines

Gauge conversion projects.

Navratna status and its benefits

Navratna’s status will give RVNL more operational freedom and financial autonomy.

Enhanced delegation of powers will also be granted to the company.

Navratna’s status will be a huge boost to RVNL’s progress.

This status will be especially beneficial for the company as it expands its operations beyond the railway’s sector and into international projects.

All India Radio (AIR) to be renamed Akashvani

The Centre has ordered that public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes.

All India Radio: Through history

The journey of radio broadcasting in India began with the first commercial transmission sent out by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923.

In 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was established and in 1930, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was set up.

In 1936, ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR).

At the time of Independence, AIR covered only two percent of India’s land area and reached just 11 percent of its population.

Today, AIR has a network of over 262 radio stations, covering 92% of India’s area and nearly all of its population.

It broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects and also has an External Services Division which broadcasts in 11 Indian and 16 foreign languages, reaching out to more than 100 countries.

AIR’s News Services Division broadcasts 647 bulletins daily for a total duration of nearly 56 hours.

FM broadcasting began in 1977 in Chennai and today, AIR has 18 FM stereo channels.

Why the name change?

The order to exclusively refer to AIR as Akashvani is in line with the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, passed by Parliament.

Listeners have more of a connect with Akashvani and that the name change is in tune with the law which came into being in 1997.

Importance of AIR

AIR played a crucial role in communicating momentous events in India’s recent history, prior to the advent of television or digital media.

AIR’s place in history is cemented due to its role in broadcasting Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in 1947 and Kapil Dev’s mythical 175 run knock in 1983, among other events.

For many Indians, the Akashvani jingle evokes nostalgia and memories of a bygone era when they woke up to the sounds of the jingle at the break of dawn and started their day with AIR programming