When we discuss cannabis on a global level, we'd like to imagine the rest of the world sparking a joint or toking on a bong like most of us do in America. However, cannabis is embraced differently depending on the culture. Marijuana can be a very profitable crop if grown correctly, and economic benefits have blessed places that once faced severe poverty. The potential and versatility of cannabis are represented by the alterations done by all different nations.

What Makes Malana Village Unique?

Often referred to as the "Athens of the Himalayas," the Malana village is located in the Parvati Valley in remote northern India. Steep mountain trails are the only way to arrive at the secluded town, so Malana was invisible to the outside world right up until the mid-20th century. It is now celebrated for its local delicacy, Malana Cream, a smooth and potent form of concentrate.

Why Do the Malanis Consider Themselves Superior?

The locals of Malana, or Malanis, consider themselves a superior race of people and look at foreigners skeptically. Since they are unaware of what a tourist’s class might be, they do not accept money from them unless it is placed on the ground by their feet first. They believe that their village is one of the world’s first democracies, and they have their own unique government and traditions. They honor the powerful deity Jamlu Rishi, even embracing the old tradition of sacrificing goats in his name for bountiful harvests. A village council of 11 members, devotees of Jamlu Rishi, currently govern Malana.

How Do the Malanis View Themselves?

Despite worshiping an Indian deity, the Malanis don’t consider themselves ethnically Indian. They believe themselves to be descendants of lost soldiers from Alexander the Great’s army. The Malanis do look more European due to their Indo-Aryan ancestors and have distinct light eyes and sharp facial features. Their dialect, Kanashi, is only spoken and has no written text. This has led to about 90% of the village being illiterate. The bright, layered clothing and jewelry of the people show a rich culture. Visitors are advised not to touch the architecture ; not only out of respect but because it will bring horrible bad luck. There are even signs for tourists not to touch buildings, or they’ll receive a fine. The world of Malana is secular, majestic, and mysterious.

What is Malana Cream?

An Italian traveler named Galeno Orazi educated them on the bounty of cannabis and taught the locals how to make charas. Cannabis concentrate is referred to interchangeably as charas and hash; however, charas is slightly different from hash. Hash is produced by crushing and sifting the product to get a powdery, refined result. Charas is specific to the concentrate of the Himalayas and is made by rubbing plants freshly harvested by hand. The result is a high potency and terpene-rich resin, rolled into dark little balls or long woven strings.

Why is Malana Cream So Popular?

The Malana Cream, or "Super Cream," and oil are beloved by consumers who travel across the world just to get a bit of this exclusive product. Parvati is the name of the actual strain, which is a full-bred landrace Sativa. The high is cerebral, euphoric, and lasts for hours. The smell and taste are distinct, with unique notes of pine and juicy fruits, making for a delicious exhale.

Do Malana Locals Consume Marijuana?

Most locals in Malana village do not regularly smoke any marijuana or consume the Malana Cream. The plant has grown wildly for generations and was casually enjoyed. It even sprouts up like a weed under porches or on the sides of paths. While this wild Indian weed was before smoked as bud, when it was made into their world-famous concentrate, the opportunity for trade came about. Travelers made Malana Village a stop on the famous Hippie Trail to grab some of this prized charas that were unlike any other in the world. Returning to Amsterdam and the States with these powerful, dark balls or tins full of Super Cream impressed all the weed connoisseurs of the time, and everyone had to know where to get it.

How Does Cannabis Impact Malana's Economy?

Malana is an extremely poor place. With little aid from the government and a fight to access electricity and paved roads, it is difficult for the economy of Malana to thrive. Marijuana is the only crop that grows naturally. However, hemp fiber is versatile and strong. It can be made into slippers, baskets, clothes, and other essentials to help stimulate income. It has always been a reliable crop, but its full potential was unknown until it was influenced by foreigners. Squeezing and rolling the best result out of the plant skyrocketed the profit of the village. Tourists began to come in swaths from all over the world for this secret extraction.

What are the Social Impacts of Cannabis Tourism?

Despite the benefits, the Malanis elders are not thrilled to have tourists come to their village to buy their famous cream. The younger generations have begun to shed their traditions because of the exposure to the West, and dress in modern clothes and listen to new music. Many have departed the village to live in big cities and engage with the modern world, disappointing the elders who have maintained their rich culture for centuries. Most tourism is for the Malana Cream and its psychoactive effects, with little interest in the Malana people or their customs. Still, the people of Malana don’t want to be known for their weed - they actually prefer not to be known at all!

What is the Legacy of Malana Cream?

The shrouded and secret village of Malana birthed some of the finest cannabis products renowned across the globe. Marijuana is a magical plant that can turn rags to riches. Just by being shown a simple technique, the people of Malana produced some of the best concentrates in the world. With no other crops and little aid from the government, the profit from Malana Cream was a stroke of luck. One of the village elders even denoted that the most beautiful thing he’d seen in his life was Galeno showing them how to rub plants for the super cream.

What Should We Remember About Malana?

We can celebrate the success of this unsung hero of cannabis, but also remember that the fame the Malanis gathered was not intentional. The natives of this remote village would keep this to themselves if it were not for the immense profit.

If you want to get really high - you gotta concentrate.

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