India drug laws

March 2, 2007 8:11 AM

Can anyone resident in India clear up my confusion on the drug laws there?

I understand (from many sources, all over the place) that dope is illegal in India, and police will extract bribes and in some cases prosecute / jail westerners for possession.

But on the other hand, there is talk of bhang lassis being consumed in religious festivals, of government bhang shops, and even legal opium in Puri.

Do you have to be a devotee to be fully legal using the stuff? Or do the cops just shake down Westerners because they don't know the law? Could a Westerner claim religious reasons as a defense for posession?

Thanks in advance for any info.

posted by Meatbomb to religion & philosophy (1 comment total)

I have no substantive advise to impart other than that in my experience a sign saying something is government approved in India is almost always an indicator of the opposite.
posted by AwkwardPause at 8:24 AM on March 2, 2007 [2 favorites]