Bhubaneswar, Aug 13: The Odisha government has officially categorized ‘Bhang’ as an intoxicant, officials said on Tuesday.

The State's Excise Department issued an official notification in this regard on Monday.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause(T) of section 2 of the Odisha Excise Act, 2008 (Odisha Act 10 of 2013), the State government do hereby declare 'Bhang' which means a preparation from the leaves, or small stalks of the Indian Hemp Plant (Cannabis Sativa), which is smoked, chewed eaten or infused and drunk which has the potential of producing symptoms of grandiosity, excitement, hostility, disorientation, hallucinations and thought disorder, as an intoxicant," reads the notification.

Bhang is typically consumed in the form of a drink or mixed with sweets. It is also available as bhang goli which is just freshly ground cannabis with water.

Bhang is mostly consumed during religious festivals like Maha Shivratri and Holi in many places of Odisha. However, it is very popular in the holy city of Puri. 

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