Pokhara, Aug. 7 -- Gandaki Province has formally opened the door to the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial use after its province chief authenticated a landmark law that establishes one of the country's most comprehensive regulatory regimes for the crop.

The Bill to Regulate and Utilise Cannabis Cultivation for Medicinal and Industrial Purposes, 2026 was authenticated on Monday by Gandaki Chief Dilliraj Bhatta after surviving a constitutional dispute over whether the province had exceeded its legislative authority.

Once published in the provincial gazette, the law will come into force, although detailed regulations and implementation guidelines still need to be drafted before cultivation licences can be issued.

The le...