Maniour govt to check illegal poppy cultivation: CM

The Manipur government is planning to order a crackdown on illegal poppy cultivation in the state, while also weighing the option of growing marijuana at select places for medicinal purposes, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said Thursday.

Singh, while speaking at the inauguration of Horticulture and Soil Conservation office here, said the government along with horticulture department are "minutely discussing" the matter and exploring ways "to provide livelihood to those engaged with plantation of poppy plants".

The poppy cultivators could be motivated to grow horticulture crops, he suggested.

Noting that "plantation of marijuana for medical purposes has been legalized in some countries", the chief minister cautioned that illegal poppy plantation, if not checked, will lead to "serious problems in near future".

Singh has recently honoured a team of police officers that busted a heroin and brown sugar manufacturing unit and seized illegal drugs worth over Rs 100 crore in the international market.