Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. India law
Bangalore, also called Bengaluru, is subject to India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and applicable state rules. Unauthorized possession, purchase, and supply of controlled cannabis products are prohibited.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Unauthorized ganja and charas are prohibited.
- Medical: The Act provides for regulated medical and scientific purposes; it is too broad to say all medical use is categorically unavailable.
- Possession: Penalties depend on the substance, quantity, and circumstances.
- Buying/Selling: Unauthorized trade is prohibited.
- Tourists: Religious associations or informal tolerance do not create an exemption.
Practical guidance
The statutory definition distinguishes ganja’s flowering or fruiting tops from seeds and leaves when not accompanied by those tops. That distinction does not establish unrestricted legality for every bhang product. Karnataka-specific product rules and medical access have not been verified in this pilot, so no local availability claim is made.
Law Enforcement
People used to say the cops ignored personal use under half an ounce, except at airports. You’d also hear that a small bribe might get you out of trouble if you were lucky. Neither was a reliable rule. The common advice was to keep a low profile and enjoy your smoke without bothering anybody.
November 2006
“I was in Bangalore in November 2006, and the cops had recently been cracking down on dealers and buyers. The good thing about India is that the crackdowns are short-lived. Six or seven months later, everything is back to square one.”
Where to Buy Marijuana
Kanakpura, Goripalya, the market. The better weed was outside town.
“Easy. Walk down a line of auto-rickshaws and say ‘ganga.’ Be careful about your dealer connection. Ask whether they smoke and whether they’ve smoked the stuff you’re buying. Negotiate the ride and ask the price of the herb.”
Marijuana Prices
₹120–150 was the going quote for a 40–50 gram pack (about an ounce and a half, then around US$2.50–3.50). Go through an auto-rickshaw driver as a foreigner and you could pay a few bucks extra.
“If you’re scoring through auto drivers, I can guarantee you’ll get ripped off. It starts at 30, pretty useless, but 120–150 is a decent price. It’s better to know someone who smokes.”
Bangalore marijuana brands and quality. Most weed was grown outdoors, and some came in from neighboring states. Once in a while you’d see stuff so dark it was almost brownish-black, with a funny smell. I wouldn’t touch it. People said it could be cut with anything from shoe polish to “brown sugar.” Whatever was in it made for “an extremely harsh smoke and a $*%#ed-up trip.”
The best and most potent weed was outside the city: Anekal, Ramnagaram, Mallur. “100% pure.” You needed to know the roads and who to ask, and people generally didn’t sell to faces they’d never seen.
More Information
Get to know local stoners. People in Bangalore are generally laid-back and may help even if they don’t smoke themselves. The pubs around Brigade Road and Residency Road were good for meeting people. After a couple of beers, some people slipped into the alleys or down Rest House Road, which runs parallel to Brigade Road. Bring your own papers.
How Bangalore stacks up
“I’ve scored in seven cities in India: Delhi, Bombay, Manali, Bangalore, Chennai, Jamshedpur, and Calcutta. Of those, Chennai is the worst, and Bangalore is a close second.
“Delhi and Manali are infinitely more tolerant of marijuana than Bangalore. Pot isn’t widely available here, and it isn’t very tolerated. In Delhi, Manali, and even Bombay, you can smoke up in the open. Bangalore’s shit, trust me.”