Indigenous Uses and Ethnobotany of Cannabis sativa L. (Hemp) in Uttaranchal (India)

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. is one of the oldest food, fibre, medicinal, psychoactive and oil plants known. It has been used by innumerable ethnic societies in Asia. Uttaranchal (India) is an ethnic region where the plant is a part of the local culture. In this paper the indigenous uses and ethnobotany of its seed, seed oil, stems, fibre, leaves, inflorescences and resin along with various recipes of seeds are described. A theory of its introduction to Uttaranchal by ethnic races is also given. It is concluded that in the light of the present commercial and industrial uses of Cannabis its cultivation should be promoted in Uttaranchal and other parts of the Himalayan regions of India, where it grows naturally and is cultivated for folk uses.