Satellites for detecting drug cultivation

Odisha Space Application Centre (OSAC) has proposed to help law enforcement agencies detect drug cultivation activity using remote sensing and artificial intelligence technologies.

High resolution satellite imagery can be used for detecting cultivation of hemp, a variety of cannabis.
OSAC has proposed to create a mechanism for citizen reporting by which people can take images and video of any illegal hemp cultivation and report through application.
Odisha is one of the leading cannabis producing States in India. Though law enforcement agencies have intensified their raids, it is difficult to trace the cultivation on a real-time basis.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes.
The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Cannabis has various mental and physical effects, which include euphoria, altered states of mind and sense of time, difficulty concentrating, impaired short-term memory and body movement, relaxation, and an increase in appetite
There is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, or to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms.

Cannabis in India has been used since as early as 2000 BCE.
Cannabis sativa is one of the candidates for the identity of the plant that was used to prepare soma in Vedic period.
In Indian society, common terms for cannabis preparations include charas (resin), ganja (flower), and bhang (seeds and leaves), with Indian drinks, such as bhang lassi and bhang thandai made from bhang being one of the most common legal uses.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s “Magnitude of Substance Use in India 2019” survey found that 2.83% of Indians aged 10–75 years (or 31 million people) were current users of cannabis products.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/satellites-to-detect-drug-cultivation-in-odisha/article33006691.ece

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