The Sri Lankan government will soon bring legislation to legalize cannabis in the country, Daily Mirror reported. Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapakshe said the government would soon take a policy decision to encourage cannabis as a medicinal crop in the future.

According to a report in Daily Mirror, the president was speaking at a function titled ‘Discussion with Village’ when the statement came in response to a question posed by an academic.  

Rajapkshe was later briefed by his officials about the existing policy. The report said he directed state officials to create a policy proposal legalizing cannabis for medicinal use.

Some of the areas in the country are ideal for cultivating cannabis. Authorities currently treat the cannabis cultivators as criminals and arrest them, and in the process destroy their crops,  said the academician who posed the question to the president.

Cannabis is also used in many herb-based medicines which are  used by the rural population. Currently, only licensed farmers can grow cannabis crop.