Semi-synthetic cannabinoids (SSCs) can emerge through minor chemical changes to hemp-derived CBD, leaving some outside substance-specific controls.
India's main difficulty with its legislation is that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is that while it ensures legal certainty, the process of identification and legislation is slower than the process of creating new substances or 'designer drugs'.
This brief argues that India's response to the emergence of SSCs should shift from a reactive regulatory approach towards anticipatory governance: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/keeping-pace-with-semi-synthetic-cannabinoids-india-s-regulatory-challenge
orfonline.org
Keeping Pace with Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids: India’s Regulatory Challenge
August 31, 2026 455
