VISAKHAPATNAM: Hello pot, meet Sheelavathi. This distinctive strain of cannabis is rolling high. Primarily cultivated in tribal areas along the Andhra-Odisha border, Sheelavathi has emerged as the most coveted variety in India, surpassing the popular Malana Cream grown in Himachal over past three to four years.
Enforcement department sources said of the 23 lakh kilos of ganja confiscated by NCB nationwide in past four years, more than 70% belonged to the Sheelavathi strain. This staggering seizure underscores the escalating demand for the contraband and its proliferation across the country.
An official from Andhra’s Special Enforcement Bureau attributed Sheelavathi’s popularity to its affordability compared to Malana Cream and Idukki Gold from Kerala. “The cannabis plant has a number of chemical compounds called cannabinoids, of which tetrahydrocannabinol is the basic psychoactive element. Sheelavathi possesses its distinct set of terpenes and aromatic compounds, setting it apart from other cannabis varieties,” he said.
Malana Cream, predominantly grown in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu region, enjoyed popularity until 2019. However, its limited supply and high prices, ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh a kg, rendered it less accessible compared to Sheelavathi, available for Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh a kg.
Sheelavathi was historically farmed across various parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh, bordering Odisha. But rigorous enforcement measures have restricted its cultivation to Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Odisha, along with select areas of ASR district.
Enforcement department sources said of the 23 lakh kilos of ganja confiscated by NCB nationwide in past four years, more than 70% belonged to the Sheelavathi strain. This staggering seizure underscores the escalating demand for the contraband and its proliferation across the country.
An official from Andhra’s Special Enforcement Bureau attributed Sheelavathi’s popularity to its affordability compared to Malana Cream and Idukki Gold from Kerala. “The cannabis plant has a number of chemical compounds called cannabinoids, of which tetrahydrocannabinol is the basic psychoactive element. Sheelavathi possesses its distinct set of terpenes and aromatic compounds, setting it apart from other cannabis varieties,” he said.
Malana Cream, predominantly grown in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu region, enjoyed popularity until 2019. However, its limited supply and high prices, ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh a kg, rendered it less accessible compared to Sheelavathi, available for Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh a kg.
Sheelavathi was historically farmed across various parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh, bordering Odisha. But rigorous enforcement measures have restricted its cultivation to Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Odisha, along with select areas of ASR district.