Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. India law
Cannabis laws in New Delhi follow India’s national law. The rules here are set by the broader jurisdiction, and city-level differences are uncommon.
Under the law, recreational and medical cannabis are illegal. In practice, bhang preparations are often tolerated in certain religious contexts. Possession of other cannabis products can lead to penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Not available
- Possession: Illegal (limited traditional exceptions)
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Subject to enforcement risk
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Weed didn’t seem like a priority for the police. The newer Marijuana Laws section distinguishes traditional bhang from other cannabis products, which people sometimes talked about as if they were interchangeable.
Where to Buy Marijuana
There were bhang shops, and for smoke there was Paharganj (also Pahad Ganj), across from New Delhi Railway Station near Connaught Place.
“You don’t smoke marijuana in India unless it comes from the South.” Weed in Delhi’s poorer neighborhoods was common but usually not worth the trouble. Hash from the hills was among the best in the world to me.
Past the bong shops, two or three people might ask whether you wanted some. I worried it could be a dirty shoe-polish mix. I’d go to a hippie café and talk to a waiter or a traveler instead.
At the big circle, there was also the two-seater motorcycle approach: a driver went away and left you waiting, then came back with something. The bargaining tip was to offer half what he asked.
Marijuana Prices
Cheap by Western tourist standards. Weed was ₹50–100 (US$1–2 then) for what was sold as a ten-gram tola. Hash was ₹300–700 (US$6–14) for the same quoted amount.
Some hash started at ₹200. Top “cream” was ₹1,300 or more for a tola, put at about US$40 at the time.
Types of Marijuana
Mostly outdoor weed. Milder than what Americans might be used to, but great taste. Indian hash was stronger and better quality. Names included cream and junglee, meaning wild.
More Information
In Paharganj the hotels were full of foreign travelers, with bongs, Rizlas, chillums, grinders, weed and hash nearby. If you’re going to trip in Delhi, this could be one of your best trips ever.
If you get a chance, head up to Himachal, to Parvati Valley or Manali. That’s where the hash comes from.