What are the implications of the Himachal Pradesh government legalising the controlled cultivation of cannabis in light of the rising cases of drug abuse and trafficking of narcotics?
Ashwani Sharma
About The Author
Ashwani Sharma Senior State Correspondent with the Outlook. A seasoned journalist with over 30 years of experience in reporting and analysis. Has served as the State Bureau Chief for The Indian Express in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and has also worked in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, as well as in Chandigarh, Rohtak (Haryana), and Jammu. Holds a doctorate in Journalism and Mass Communication.
About The Author
Ashwani Sharma Senior State Correspondent with the Outlook. A seasoned journalist with over 30 years of experience in reporting and analysis. Has served as the State Bureau Chief for The Indian Express in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and has also worked in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, as well as in Chandigarh, Rohtak (Haryana), and Jammu. Holds a doctorate in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The recent drug overdose deaths, including those of sportspersons of national and international ranking, reflect the grim future that Haryana faces
BY Ashwani Sharma 27 August 2026
Cross-border smuggling, rising unemployment and rural distress are fuelling Punjab’s drug crisis
BY Ashwani Sharma 27 August 2026
The drug problem, which was once seen primarily as a law-and-order issue in Himachal Pradesh, has evolved into a serious public health and social crisis. State Director General of Police Ashok Tewari talks about how the prevention of the supply line from Punjab, Delhi and Haryana is emerging as the biggest challenge. Edited excerpts from an interview with Ashwani Sharma.
BY Ashwani Sharma 27 August 2026
Himachal Pradesh’s proximity to Punjab has made it vulnerable to drug trafficking networks. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu talks about how the state is dealing with a crisis originating beyond its borders, the campaigns launched by the government and the stringent measures taken against police personnel allegedly involved in drug-related activities. Edited excerpts from an interview with Ashwani Sharma.
BY Ashwani Sharma 27 August 2026
Punjab’s drug epidemic has not just spilled into Himachal, it has breached the walls of schools and colleges and has seeped into cities, villages, remote valleys and tribal belts
BY Ashwani Sharma 27 August 2026
With drugs flowing into the country from the eastern and western epicentres, there is an urgent need to seal our borders and cut ties with the global narcotics economy
BY Nitin Mahajan 27 August 2026
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu plans to reduce the sanctioned strength of IAS officers from 153 to 130 and IFS officers from 118 to 83, citing the state’s financial burden and an oversized bureaucracy
BY Ashwani Sharma 19 August 2026
Popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, year after year, are crumbling under the weight of crores of incoming tourists during peak season
BY Ashwani Sharma 29 July 2026
Kangana Ranaut is an MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
BY Ashwani Sharma 3 May 2026
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