Gandaki Governor Sends Cannabis Bill Back, Triggering a New Test for Nepal’s First Provincial Marijuana Law

Gandaki Province’s much-hyped cannabis bill has hit a major legal roadblock. Governor Dilliraj Bhatta has returned the legislation to the Provincial Assembly after concluding that it conflicts with Nepal’s Constitution and federal laws, forcing lawmakers to revisit a bill they had unanimously approved only days earlier.

The move raises the stakes for what had been billed as Nepal’s first provincial framework for regulated cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial use. The bill was designed to create a tightly controlled licensing system, with cultivation limited to designated areas, prior approval required, and strict government supervision built into the process.

What the bill was trying to do

The legislation, formally presented as a cannabis cultivation regulation bill, aimed to legalize and manage cannabis growing for medicinal and industrial purposes only. It did not authorize recreational use. Reported provisions included restrictions on cultivation sites, mandatory licensing, security requirements, and chemical testing before sale or use.

Earlier reports also described a detailed regulatory structure that would have placed cannabis farming under provincial oversight, with THC limits, inspection rules, and penalties for unauthorized cultivation. Some versions of the draft even outlined a broader licensing regime for growers, processors, and related businesses.

Why the governor sent it back

According to the sources, Governor Bhatta returned the bill because it was found to be inconsistent with the Constitution of Nepal and federal laws. That makes the issue less about cannabis policy itself and more about jurisdiction, since Nepal’s constitutional structure gives the federal government significant authority over controlled substances and related regulation.

The timing matters too. The Provincial Assembly had already passed the bill unanimously, which showed rare cross-party agreement on an issue usually treated with caution. But unanimous approval at the provincial level does not guarantee a law survives constitutional scrutiny.

Why this matters beyond Gandaki

This is more than a local legislative dispute. Gandaki had positioned itself as the first province in Nepal to move toward regulated cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. If revived and approved in a legally sound form, the bill could have set a precedent for how provinces approach cannabis-related economic policy.

Supporters of the proposal have argued that regulated cultivation could boost farm incomes, create industrial opportunities, and support medicinal production. At the same time, critics and legal reviewers appear to be focused on whether Gandaki overstepped provincial authority by attempting to regulate a field already constrained by federal law.

What happens next

The bill now goes back to the Provincial Assembly for reconsideration, where lawmakers will likely need to revise its language, narrow its scope, or align it more closely with federal legal requirements. The governor’s returned message adds another layer of scrutiny to a proposal that was already politically significant and legally sensitive.

For now, Gandaki’s cannabis experiment remains on hold. The province has shown strong interest in opening the door to a regulated medicinal and industrial cannabis market, but the final shape of that policy will depend on whether lawmakers can build a version that survives constitutional review.