Cannabis gummies sold online come under EAGLE, NCB scrutiny
HYDERABAD: Cannabis-infused gummies, oils and other products marketed as wellness supplements by online platforms have come under the scrutiny of the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Authorities are examining whether licences and online prescriptions cited by sellers can protect such products from action under narcotics, excise, drug and food safety laws.
The scrutiny began during an investigation by the Rachakonda Narcotics police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigators said one of the accused told police he had stopped procuring ganja physically and had instead begun buying “weed gummies” through an online platform.
EAGLE director Sandeep Shandilya said the agency had written to the NCB seeking action against websites selling such products. Questioning the practice of issuing remote prescriptions, he said, “How can somebody sitting in Delhi prescribe to a person sitting in Hyderabad?”
Shandilya said the products would have to undergo scientific examination to determine whether they contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Accused allegedly ordered gummies through Instagram advertisement
The FIR names Samala Prithviraj, 28, an artist, and Mohammed Yaheyaullah, 22, a student.
According to investigators, Prithviraj saw an advertisement for weed gummies on Instagram and placed two orders through a website. Police alleged that he used the address of a nearby shop instead of his residence for delivery and paid through UPI, creating a digital transaction trail.
Police said Prithviraj received his second order on May 13. The parcel allegedly contained 15 gummies valued at about ₹2,500. Investigators alleged that he consumed 12 gummies before he was apprehended.
Police conducted an ABON urine drug detection test and said Prithviraj disclosed that he had been consuming ganja for seven years. He allegedly told investigators that the habit began while working with a film production team.
Licensing claims face legal scrutiny
The Delhi-based platform advertised gummies containing cannabis extract concentrations of 5%, 7.25%, 9.26% and 13%. It claimed to possess an Ayush manufacturing licence, a free sale certificate, a state excise licence and compliance with Schedule E-1 regulations. These claims could not be independently verified.
Legal experts said the legality of such products cannot be determined merely because they are described as cannabis leaf extracts or Ayurvedic formulations.
Advocate Khasim Basha Wali said the NDPS Act defines “ganja” as the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant and excludes seeds and leaves when they are not accompanied by the tops. The Act also covers charas, separated resin, hashish oil and mixtures or beverages prepared from these substances.
However, the Telangana Excise Act, 1968, adopts a broader definition that includes leaves, small stalks and the flowering or fruiting tops of the Indian hemp plant.
Basha Wali said courts have held that cannabis leaves unaccompanied by flowering tops fall outside the NDPS definition. However, he said this does not automatically make such products lawful. The plant material used, THC content, manufacturing process, licences and compliance with state excise and drug regulations would all require scrutiny.
