Federal Cabinet Approves National Cannabis Regulatory Policy 2025

The Federal Cabinet has granted formal approval to the National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy, 2025, with the principal objectives of preventing misuse of cannabis, eliminating market manipulation, and establishing a structured regulatory framework for its controlled cultivation, processing, and commercialisation.

The approval follows exhaustive deliberations and iterative revisions by a high-level inter-ministerial committee constituted specifically for this purpose, drawing upon international best practices and global regulatory models.

According to official sources, the Cabinet Division recalled that the initial draft of the policy was tabled before the Cabinet on June 17, 2025. Following preliminary scrutiny, the Cabinet directed the formation of a dedicated committee under the chairmanship of the Minister for Defence to undertake a detailed examination. The committee convened two formal meetings on August 5 and October 13, 2025, during which it reviewed the policy framework, addressed stakeholder concerns, and proposed targeted amendments to strengthen safeguards and operational clarity.

The committee’s final report, incorporating all recommended modifications, was accompanied by a certificate from the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority affirming compliance with statutory requirements. The revised policy document was thereafter submitted to the Cabinet for consideration and approval under the provisions of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Act, 2024.

The Cabinet underscored the strategic importance of timely enactment of the policy to enable Pakistan to harness the substantial economic opportunities presented by regulated cannabis cultivation and the production and sale of cannabis-derived products for legitimate medicinal and industrial purposes. This represents the inaugural national policy of its kind in Pakistan.

The committee further reviewed mechanisms for harmonising federal and provincial regulatory approaches to avert jurisdictional conflicts and promote effective inter-governmental coordination in implementation.