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Charas is acannabis concentrate made from theresin of a livecannabis plant (Cannabis sativa eitherIndica subspecies orSativa subspecies) and is handmade in theIndian subcontinent.[1][2] The plant grows wild throughout Northern India[3] along the stretch of theHimalayas (its putative origin) and is an importantcash crop for the local people.[4][5] The difference between charas andhashish is that hashish is made from a dead cannabis plant and charas is made from a live one.
Charas has been used across theIndian subcontinent for medicinal and religious purposes for thousands of years,[6] and was sold in government shops (along withopium) during the times of theBritish India[7] and in independentIndia until the 1980s when sale and consumption of Cannabis was made illegal in the subcontinent.[8][9]
Charas plays an important and often integral role in theculture andritual of certain sects of theHindureligion, especially among theShaivas — who focus on the Shaivite traditions (in contrast toVaishnavs who focus on Vaishnavite traditions) —and it is venerated by some as being one of the aspects of Lord Shiva.[10][11]
Despite this long history, charas was made illegal in India under pressure from theUnited States in 1985 and cultivation andtrafficking of charas was prohibited by theNarcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985.[8][9] Charas was also produced inNepal and sold in government monopoly stores inKathmandu until the use of cannabis, and consequently charas, was made illegal in Nepal due to international pressure in 1976.[12][13]
Charas remains popular in the subcontinent and is often used by Indiansadhus for religious purposes.[14][15] TheNaga Sadhus,Aghoris andTantricBhairava sects smoke it freely as an integral part of their religious practice.[16][14][15] Many smoke it in clay pipes calledchillums, using a cotton cloth to cover the smoking end of the chillum and inserting a tightly packed pebble-sized cone of clay as filter under the chunk of charas. Before lighting the chillum they will chant the many names of Shiva inveneration.[17] It is freely available in several places around India especially where there is a strong affluence of tourists.[18] Although charas can be found in several places around India, its manufacturing can be traced only to specific locations in India such as,Parvati Valley, (Kasol, Rasol,Malana ("Malana cream"),Kashmir as well as several other places in northern India.[19] There is also a large amount of charas that is illegally exported across toEurope.[20]
High quality hashish in India comes from cannabis grown in the mountains, or that is smuggled in from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The variety fromHimachal Pradesh is considered to be of the highest quality throughout India. It is easily available inKinnaur,Shimla,Karsog,Kumarsain,Barot,Kullu-Malana,Rampur Bushahr.[19] For this reason, the Indian subcontinent has become very popular with backpackers.[19] During hand-harvesting, live cannabis plants' flowering buds (as opposed to dried plants/buds) are rubbed between the palms of the harvesters' hands to make charas.
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