hyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to legalise cannabis cultivation has opened a new chapter for farmers in tribal districts, particularly the Tirah Valley in Khyber district, where cannabis has been grown for decades.

Earlier this year, the provincial cabinet approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cultivation, Extraction, Refining, Manufacturing and Sale of Cannabis Plant for Medicinal and Industrial Purposes Rules, 2025. Under these rules, cannabis cultivation will be legal for medical and industrial purposes. Licenses will be issued by the Excise Department under strict oversight.

A dedicated committee will supervise the issuance and regulation of these licences, aiming to formalise a practice that has long been beyond a legal framework. However, access to the new opportunity may be uneven.

Mishal Khan Afridi, a farmer from Tirah currently living in Peshawar, says that most cultivators in his valley are still unaware of the government’s decision due to a lack of access to television, internet, print media and other sources of information. The valley has only sporadic internet service.

“Our people have very limited connectivity. Most farmers haven’t yet heard about this law,” Afridi tells The News on Sunday.

Afridi, who himself grows cannabis, says that the crop is typically sown in spring and harvested in early autumn. “Everyone knows what cannabis is used for,” he says with a mischievous smile, referring to charas (hashish), for which Tirah is famous.

But he notes the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the new law: “The decision may have been made, but until the procedures and rules are clear, we won’t know what our next steps will be.”

In Tirah and neighboring tribal regions such as Central Kurram, a sub-divion of Kurram district adjacent to Khyber district, cannabis is widely cultivated, often due to economic necessity. While crops like potatoes are grown occasionally, cannabis offers far better returns.

Afridi says that even small-scale farmers can earn up to Rs 500,000 in a season. Large-scale cultivators can make millions. “Cannabis is our main livelihood. The soil and climate suit it. And the market, though illegal, is strong,” he says.

Locally known as Malangi Booti, cannabis has long been associated with intoxication. It grows wild in many parts of Pakistan, particularly during the monsoon season. But the plant’s potential goes far beyond recreational use.

Cannabis is used globally in the production of medicines, oils, textiles and construction materials. This shift in perception from narcotic to industrial asset is reflected in the government’s rationale for legalisation.

Waqar Ali Shah Daryab, a Pashto poet, says cannabis has also played a cultural role in South Asia. Poet Sahib Shah Sabir famously alluded to cannabis in his verse: “Ishq la ka da bang loge kha lage, khwaga lage…” [Affection is akin to lingering smoke of cannabis, a rare indulgence we savour.]

Another Pashto folk song, sung by famous singer Sardar Ali Takkar, says “Ey da Bhango botia khomar dy kram, Gham da dunyagayna Ozgar dy kram” [Oh, cannabis plant, your intoxication has overwhelmed me. You’ve freed me from the sorrows of this world.]

Ali Afridi, another farmer from Tirah, says the government’s decision could indeed change the lives of local farmers if implemented fairly. “This move could provide us with legal protection and a stable source of income,” he says. “But if the licensing process is complicated, or if it favours the influential, it will only widen the gap between the powerful and the powerless.”

He adds, “If small-scale farmers are granted licences liberally, without corruption or nepotism and the cultivation is for medical and industrial purposes in public interest, then this could uplift the economy. Otherwise, it will be another form of class disparity.”

At the federal level, a similar initiative was introduced in September 2020 by the then PTI-led coalition government. Limited cultivation was approved for medicinal use under government supervision. The move was projected to generate over $1 billion in foreign exchange over three years.

Former Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, had then announced that Peshawar, Jhelum and Chakwal had been selected as pilot areas for cannabis cultivation under the federal programme.

Sanaullah Afridi who hails from Jamrud supports the decision to legalise hemp cultivation in select districts. He says this will have positive outcomes for local farmers. He believes that the development will not only provide them legal protection but also open up opportunities for economic advancement.

“With government support and oversight, farmers will be free from the pressure of illegality and potential fines. Access to legal markets could significantly increase their income,” Sanaullah says.

He says the government should also facilitate farmers and train them to promote the cultivation of high-quality cannabis. It will improve the economic conditions of the area and create new employment opportunities.

As provincial and federal policies converge, the hope is that legalising cannabis can shift it from an underground economy to a regulated industry. Whether this shift will benefit the marginalised farmers of Tirah or become another avenue for elite control remains to be seen.

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets @daudpasaney