Online platforms peddle potent strain seeds as souvenirs
Hyderabad: The availability of high-potency cannabis strains in Hyderabad is increasingly facilitated through online platforms. Websites such as Jonjo Seeds and MT Seed Bank are offering seeds of OG Kush—a strain renowned for its high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content—under the pretense of souvenir sales.
One listing on Jonjo Seeds advertises 10 seeds for ₹3,999, while attempting to maintain legal distance by labelling the sale as 'for informational and educational use only.' The site includes a disclaimer warning that germination is a criminal offence in India, yet also highlights the relaxing effects of
OG Kush
, describing its aroma as a blend of "fuel, skunk, and spice."
Despite these disclaimers, the seeds are reportedly being grown discreetly in balconies and private gardens across Hyderabad.
Advocate Duvvuri Suryanarayana, an expert in narcotics law, clarified that "seeds alone do not fall under the
NDPS Act
, but cultivation does," making any act of germination a prosecutable offence under section 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Cannabis supply chain
In a series of recent enforcement actions, Hyderabad police recovered significant quantities of OG Kush from various parts of the city. On April 16, excise officials at Kacheguda railway station apprehended a software engineer and a real estate manager in possession of 500 grams of OG Kush and other substances worth over ₹40 lakh.
In March, an additional 203 grams were seized during raids in Ameerpet and Nampally. A separate operation in Sun City led to the arrest of a US national and his associate for trafficking OG Kush sourced from Mumbai.
Officials suggest these incidents reveal an evolving drug network—shifting from traditional trafficking routes to hyper-local, tech-facilitated operations. "Online platforms are increasingly selling seed drugs like ganja. It's hard to monitor. Even ganja chocolates were sold earlier," said TGNAB director Sandeep Shandilya.
He said that the Narcotics Control Bureau is aware of these online sales, though current legislation does not explicitly prohibit drug-related advertisements.
Underground market
Sellers often turn to the dark web, using Tor browsers and cryptocurrency transactions to maintain anonymity beyond conventional platforms.
Meanwhile, social media serves as an informal storefront—where dealers share coded advertisements and connect with buyers through private messages.
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