Sri Lanka and the challenges of cannabis

In Sri Lanka, the sale, cultivation, and possession of cannabis are illegal and punishable by law. The Sri Lankan government has launched campaigns against cannabis abuse. Police patrols typically operate throughout the country at night.

However, this country—which is subject to strict cannabis prohibition—has a long tradition of cannabis use throughout its history.

A Brief History of Cannabis in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island in Asia located south of India. It is a country with significant natural resources, and cannabis has been cultivated and consumed there for hundreds of years. During the colonial period, Portugal controlled Sri Lanka but lost it to the Dutch in 1675. The Dutch then enacted a decree prohibiting the drug trafficking, including cannabis. The British, in turn, colonized India and Sri Lanka in the 19th century. At that time, the cannabis trade expanded in India and Afghanistan, and trafficking began to pass through Sri Lanka.

In addition, the country practices Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian medicine which has existed for millennia. This form of medicine focuses on health in the broadest sense—that is, the body, lifestyle, and the mind. In Sri Lankan traditions, the Cannabis is used there for therapeutic purposes. In the local language, Sinhala, the terms «virapati,» meaning «leaves of heroes,» and “harshini,” meaning “the bringers of joy,” are used to describe the plant.

Cannabis is actually called "kansa" when it refers to a growing plant and "ganja" when referring to the flower. That is why the cannabis used for medical purposes is not «completely» prohibited, since it is used by doctors who practice Ayurvedic medicine.

The Challenges of Cannabis in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the situation of the recreational cannabis seems to be complicated. According to an article in Dope Magazine, An official described cannabis use as «simply a narcotic in Sri Lankan society, strongly associated with antisocial and inappropriate behavior.»

He also points out the lack of 'public effort to promote and legitimize the cannabis in Sri Lanka, and that one of the main obstacles preventing full legalization was the authorities' fear that they would be unable to control distribution.

Some politicians support the legalization of cannabis. This is the case for Sumedha G. Jayasena, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who had stated at a rally : «The minister said it was difficult to find anyone in the Thanamalwila region who had not grown ganja. Even the Buddhist monks in the region are demanding that ganja be legalized. The Bhikshus (monks) come to us and ask that the laws be amended in Parliament to remove the obstacles.” legal measures to allow for the free cultivation of ganja.

The main areas where cannabis is cultivated in Sri Lanka are almost all located in the rural southern regions, as well as in the country’s dry zones in the Eastern and Southern provinces. The estimated area of land under cultivation is 500 hectares.

However, due to severe flooding that struck the country last June, Sri Lanka faces major challenges for farmers and the agricultural sector in general, as tea production has been hit the hardest. Authorities have described these floods as the worst the country has seen in more than 10 years. They have killed more than 200 people and displaced more than 600,000 from their homes. This natural disaster is taking a heavy toll on producers, particularly cannabis growers in Sri Lanka, as the stakes are considerable.

Mehdi Bautier