Jammu, February 25 Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the country's first cannabis-based medicinal project is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with a French company in Jammu. The aim is to convert substances commonly associated with drug abuse into export-quality medicines.
"A major step has been taken in Jammu regarding a cannabis-based medicinal project. Under this initiative, the cannabis plant, which has traditionally been perceived as an intoxicant, will now be used for medicinal purposes. The goal is to manufacture painkiller medicines that can assist in the treatment of cancer, diabetic neuropathy, and other serious illnesses," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function at IIIM here.
Describing it as a first-of-its-kind initiative, Singh said, "This will give India a new identity across the world. Export-quality medicines will be produced, and at the same time, this project will send a message that these so-called intoxicating substances are not only for abuse; they also have several beneficial properties."
The minister said that the project has been implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model through an MoU with a French company and is being taken forward by CSIR-IIIM.
He also praised Director Zubair Ahmed and his team for reviving a dilapidated structure and transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility. "The place where we are standing was a complete mess earlier. It has now been fully renovated and revitalized. A state-of-the-art block has been established with new elevators and modern safety features," he said.
Singh informed that the foundation stone has been laid for another block to be constructed for approximately Rs 55 crore, with a built-up area of approximately 8,000 square metres.
Highlighting the environmental aspect, he said the new facility would be a "totally green construction," possibly the first of its kind in Jammu city.
The minister also spoke about the legal and administrative challenges in implementing the project and said, "Since cannabis is classified as a narcotic substance, and its cultivation and transportation were restricted, special relaxations and permissions had to be obtained."
Singh said that the project has now entered its third stage, where testing and trials are underway. "After this, human trials on patients will be taken up, which will take some time," he said.
Singh said that the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) is among the oldest scientific institutes in the country, established even before Independence, and has played a significant role in the country's scientific and entrepreneurial growth.
According to the minister, the model pioneered by IIIM is now being replicated in several states, including Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand, besides Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the initiative began in the Bhaderwah region of Jammu, which has since gained global recognition.