Cannabis in India is one of those subjects where everyone has an opinion and very few people have the numbers. Between a centuries-old Ayurvedic tradition, a strict 1985 drug law, and a fast-growing legal wellness market, the facts get lost in the noise. This page pulls the most important, verifiable figures into one place.
Below are the key facts and statistics on cannabis and hemp in India in 2026: the legal thresholds, the market size, the growth forecasts, and the context you need to understand where a licensed product like Vijaya actually sits. Every figure is attributed, and where a number comes from a market-research firm rather than a statute, we say so.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Cannabis products in India are regulated and, where medicinal, are prescription-only. Vijaya (cannabis leaf extract) should be used only under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. Always verify a product's licence and lab report, and consult a qualified professional before use.
At a glance
- India’s cannabidiol (CBD) market was estimated at about USD 262.9 million in 2025, and is projected to reach roughly USD 866.9 million by 2034 (CAGR ~13.75%), per IMARC Group.
- India’s broader cannabis-product market was estimated at about USD 1.3 billion (FY2024), projected to reach roughly USD 4.7 billion by FY2032 (CAGR ~17.3%), per Markets and Data.
- Under the NDPS Act, for ganja the small quantity is 1 kg and the commercial quantity is 20 kg.
- The NDPS Act bans charas (resin) and ganja (flowering tops) but excludes the leaves and seeds of the cannabis plant.
- Uttarakhand was the first Indian state to permit licensed industrial hemp cultivation.
Quick answer
In 2026, cannabis in India is legally restricted but commercially growing. Recreational cannabis (ganja and charas) remains banned under the NDPS Act 1985, with a small quantity for ganja set at 1 kg and a commercial quantity at 20 kg. At the same time, the legal CBD market was estimated at around USD 262.9 million in 2025 and is forecast to roughly triple by 2034 (IMARC Group), while the wider cannabis-product market is projected to grow from about USD 1.3 billion to USD 4.7 billion by FY2032 (Markets and Data). The leaf-based, licensed, medicinal segment, where Vijaya sits, is the part with a clear legal path.
The legal facts
- The governing law is the NDPS Act, 1985. It defines and controls "cannabis (hemp)" as charas (resin) and ganja (flowering or fruiting tops), and any mixture or drink of them. Source: the NDPS Act 1985 (India Code).
- The leaves and seeds are excluded from that definition. This carve-out is the legal basis for bhang and for licensed, leaf-derived medicine.
- Ganja thresholds: small quantity is 1 kg; commercial quantity is 20 kg. Amounts in between fall into an intermediate category.
- Penalties scale with quantity: a small quantity can attract rigorous imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine up to about Rs 10,000; a commercial quantity attracts rigorous imprisonment of 10 to 20 years plus a fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 2,00,000. Source: the Department of Revenue.
- Medicinal use has a legal route: licensed Ayurvedic formulations from the permitted leaf, dispensed on prescription, under the framework overseen by the Ministry of Ayush.
The market facts
These figures come from market-research firms, not from government statistics, so treat them as informed estimates rather than official counts. They are useful for direction and scale.
| Segment | Recent estimate | Forecast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India CBD market | ~USD 262.9M (2025) | ~USD 866.9M by 2034 (CAGR ~13.75%) | IMARC Group |
| India cannabis-product market | ~USD 1.3B (FY2024) | ~USD 4.7B by FY2032 (CAGR ~17.3%) | Markets and Data |
| India industrial hemp | Emerging | ~USD 0.44B by 2026 (estimate) | Industry reports |
The tradition and context
- Cannabis has a long medical history in India as Vijaya, "the victorious one," used in Ayurveda in measured, prepared doses. Background: what is Vijaya.
- Bhang is legally sold through licensed shops in several states, for example Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam and West Bengal, because it is a leaf preparation. Detail: bhang vs weed.
- Uttarakhand led on hemp, becoming the first Indian state to allow licensed industrial hemp cultivation, with others following.
- CBD is non-intoxicating; THC is the intoxicating compound. The distinction matters for both law and product choice: is CBD oil legal in India.
What the numbers mean for a buyer
Put together, the picture is consistent: recreational cannabis stays firmly illegal, while a licensed, leaf-based wellness market grows quickly around the legal carve-out. For a buyer, the takeaway is not the market size but the direction it points, towards more products, more marketing, and therefore more need to check a licence and a lab report before you trust anything. That is exactly the standard a product like Vijaya is meant to meet. For the full legal breakdown, read is cannabis legal in India.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the cannabis market in India?
Estimates vary by firm. Markets and Data put India’s cannabis-product market at about USD 1.3 billion in FY2024, projected to reach roughly USD 4.7 billion by FY2032. IMARC Group estimated the narrower CBD market at about USD 262.9 million in 2025. These are research estimates, not official figures.
What is the small and commercial quantity of ganja under the NDPS Act?
For ganja, the small quantity is 1 kg and the commercial quantity is 20 kg. Amounts in between fall into an intermediate category with heavier penalties than a small quantity.
Is any part of the cannabis plant legal in India?
Yes. The NDPS Act excludes the leaves and seeds from its definition of cannabis. This is the legal basis for bhang and for licensed, leaf-derived Ayurvedic medicine such as Vijaya.
Which Indian state legalised hemp first?
Uttarakhand was the first Indian state to permit licensed industrial hemp cultivation, with other states moving in the same direction since.
Are these market figures official government data?
No. The market-size and growth figures come from private market-research firms and are informed estimates. The legal figures, by contrast, come from the NDPS Act and government sources.
The bottom line
India in 2026 is a country with a strict recreational cannabis ban and a fast-growing legal wellness market sitting side by side, connected by the legal carve-out for the leaf. The statistics all point the same way: the legal, licensed, leaf-based segment is where the responsible growth is, and it is the only segment a careful buyer should consider. To explore it with lab-tested products and a prescription review, browse the Kushiva range.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Cannabis products in India are regulated and, where medicinal, are prescription-only. Vijaya (cannabis leaf extract) should be used only under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. Always verify a product's licence and lab report, and consult a qualified professional before use.