The Ayurveda Department said today that legal action would be taken against the company that manufactured and released chocolates mixed with cannabis, Dr. P. Tharanga of the Ayurveda Department said. 

In an address to the media, he stated that the cannabis-infused chocolates were created for the Valentine's Day market and had been the subject of numerous social media promotions.

He said the chocolate was made by misusing the name of the Ayurvedic Department, and several promotions had been held targeting the youth who were celebrating Valentine's Day.

It is illegal and unethical to advertise a non-Ayurvedic medicine using an Ayurvedic name through these social media sites, Dr. Tharanga said.

"At a time when the country's leaders and higher officials are creating laws and regulations for the medicinal use of cannabis, such propaganda is being done to turn peace into disaster by blocking the opportunities for people to obtain the medicinal properties of cannabis," Dr. Tharanga said.

He also stated that permission from the appropriate authorities should be obtained before manufacturing and promoting a food item containing cannabis, particularly when mentioning the name of the Ayurveda.

Even in a situation where the newly manufactured medicine or food has been approved by the Ayurveda Department, it should be submitted to the "Sutra Committee" and again obtain approval. Another permission should be obtained for advertising, he said.

"We do not see a connection between Ayurveda and chocolates. We do not use chocolate as a medicine. Therefore, this action should immediately stop," Dr. Tharanga said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)