HP Cabinet Approves Medical Cannabis & Land Regularisation
07-Jun-26 08:37:16
HP approves medical cannabis policy, land regularisation plan" (published June 6, 2026) reports on several key decisions made by the Himachal Pradesh cabinet.
1. Medical Cannabis Policy
The cabinet approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Rules, 1989. This move allows for the regulated cultivation, processing, manufacturing, storage, and transportation of cannabis specifications
2. Land Regularisation Plan
A new "Policy for Regularisation of Certain Encroachments on Govt Land, 2026" was approved.
- Goal: To provide relief to landless families and marginal farmers who have occupied government land for residential, agricultural, or horticultural use.
- Status: The policy follows Supreme Court directions and has been sent to the central government for final approval.
3. Agricultural and Health Initiatives
- Agriculture Loan Interest Subvention: The state will cover 50% of the interest on eligible agricultural loans (up to ₹3 lakh) for farmers whose land faced auction proceedings. This is expected to benefit over 6,300 farmers.
- HIMCARE Scheme Upgrade: The health scheme is shifting to an insurance-based model. Coverage limits are being increased from ₹5 lakh to between ₹7 lakh and ₹10 lakh.
4. Employment and Recruitment
A large-scale recruitment drive was cleared to fill various vacant posts:
- 400 work inspectors
- 300 medical officers
- 250 Class IV/multi-task workers
- 200 staff nurses
- 75 assistant professors in medical colleges and 17 at Himachal Pradesh University.
5. Other Key Decisions
- Startup Subsidies: Under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojana (Phase IV), beneficiaries will receive a 50% subsidy for e-buses and a 30% subsidy for diesel buses.
- Paternity Leave: 15 days of paternity leave approved for job trainees.
- Infrastructure: The Baddi civil hospital will be upgraded to a 100-bed facility, and the Sarkaghat civil hospital to a 150-bed facility.
- Social Welfare: A special relief package of ₹84.7 lakh was approved for 15 fire-affected families in Shimla district.
- Compassionate Appointments: Cases previously rejected by departments will be re-examined as a one-time measure.