<p>There has forever been a hue and cry over marijuana consumption in India and the various health concerns related to it. The world has always been divided between two schools of thought – one that is against the consumption of cannabis or marijuana, and the other that believes in its medicinal benefits and wants to use it for the same. While, the west has been pondering over its medicinal values for quite some time now with some even implementing it, India too has shown interest in this area and is now pitching for medical marijuana to be legalized here. Union Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi recently made a groundbreaking suggestion about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. According to a report with PTI, this suggestion was made at a meeting of Group of Ministers, which examined the draft cabinet note National Drug Demand Reduction Policy.</p> <p class="articleimg"><img id="ed-img" class="art-lazy imwidth-full" title="Maneka Gandhi Suggests Legalisation Of Medical Marijuana" src="http://media.new.mensxp.com/media/content/2017/Jul/img-1-facebook-1501511926.jpg" alt="Maneka Gandhi Suggests Legalisation Of Medical Marijuana" data-original="http://media.new.mensxp.com/media/content/2017/Jul/img-1-facebook-1501511926.jpg" />© Facebook</p> <p>Reportedly, Gandhi said “in some of the developed countries like the US, marijuana has been legalized which ultimately results in less drug abuse.” She further added that “marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes, especially as it serves a purpose in cancer.” However, not everyone thinks on the same lines. The Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary, G. Latha Krishna Rao said, “it may not be appropriate to legalise such drugs” citing the large population and low level of literacy as possible reasons for the same. Although Rao did say that a possibility can be explored in future.  </p> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">People want marijuana legalized in India, where chemists will sell you the most potent drug without prescription.<br />Good luck with that, GOI.</p> — FarraGau CowFefe (@YearOfRat) <a href="https://twitter.com/YearOfRat/status/891885804271710210">July 31, 2017</a> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Being a frequent visitor to US, youth is ruined due to Marijuana. Pls STOP! <a href="https://t.co/bVtUDiVNqy">https://t.co/bVtUDiVNqy</a><br /><br />Student from NCR</p> — Harsh Bhasin (@Hellseeker217) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hellseeker217/status/892016816309977088">July 31, 2017</a> <p>While, India is still debating over legalization, here are some countries where medical marijuana is legalized.  </p> <p>Chile – The country had legalized marijuana way back in 2005 for medical purposes. In fact, they started growing their own cannabis in the year 2014.</p> <p>Croatia – To combat illnesses like cancer, AIDS or multiple sclerosis; Croatia legalized medical cannabis.   </p> <p>Columbia – In 2012, Columbia first decriminalized marijuana possession and then went ahead to legalise it for scientific and medical use in 2016.</p> <p> Jamaica – In 2015, the country decriminalized marijuana possession. In fact, they further created a cannabis licensing authority too for cultivation and distribution of cannabis.  </p> <p class="articleimg"><img id="ed-img" class="art-lazy imwidth-full" title="Maneka Gandhi Suggests Legalisation Of Medical Marijuana" src="http://media.new.mensxp.com/media/content/2017/Jul/img-1-pixabay-1501511863.jpg" alt="Maneka Gandhi Suggests Legalisation Of Medical Marijuana" data-original="http://media.new.mensxp.com/media/content/2017/Jul/img-1-pixabay-1501511863.jpg" />© Pixabay</p> <p>Argentina – The recent one to join the bandwagon is Argentina, which legalized marijuana this year for medical use.     </p> <p>Australia – In 2016, Australia passed the Narcotic Drugs Act that permits cannabis to be grown for medical and scientific purposes.</p> <p>Finland – In 2008, Finland legalized medical cannabis wherein the doctors prescribed the drug to only those patients who stopped responding to traditional medicines.</p> <p>Czech Republic – They have strict rules in terms of usage of medical marijuana, which was approved in 2013. However, apparently cannabis can be imported from Netherlands only and people will need a special electronic prescription from specific medical professionals to use it.  </p> <p>Source: <a href=" http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maneka-gandhi-recommends-legalising-medical-marijuana-here-are-10-countries-that-have-taken-that-route/articleshow/59842853.cms" target="_blank">The Times Of India</a></p>