If weed is what you’re into or someone you know is a regular visitor of the realm of euphoria, you might have heard of the Malana Hash, a much sought-after cannabis variant, grown in the beautiful hills of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. It is pretty much the go-to stuff for stoners across the country.

However, if you have unlocked the hardcore level, you might have heard the name ‘Idduki Gold’ aka ‘Kerala Gold’. The name is derived from the place it is grown in, that is, Idduki in Kerala. This district which falls in the western ghats is the ideal place to grow this amazingly strong stuff. While the name, Idduki Gold has been on the circuit, internationally, for some time, this glamorization of the cannabis came forth after a movie with the same name was released in 2013.

Idduki Gold is better known locally, as ‘Neela Chadayan’ or simply, Chadayan, which can be loosely translated to blue curly. It is supposedly believed that it is a hybrid strain of cannabis, its constituent being 80% Indian and 20% foreign, probably from Amsterdam. According to ‘old-timers’, the introduction of Chadayan into circulation was sometime in the 80’s, with the onset of migration to the parts of Idduki, which constitute the ‘High Range’. Since back in the day, there was an abundance of forest cover, the illegal cultivation of ganja was a way of earning bread and butter for those inhabiting the high range.

Despite knowing the illegal nature of their activities and the harsh punishment that follows, the dreams of making it big keeps the cultivators going on, year after year, sometimes spending years in the forest at a stretch. Most of these ‘plantations’ are enormous in size and controlled by heavyweights, who invest lakhs of rupees in them. However, regular police and excise raids ahead of the harvest season results in a good proportion of the harvest being burned down. 

This takes a toll on the cultivators as to repay their debts, they may stay back for another year and try their luck again. The plantation workers even stand the risk of losing their lives. Since the plantations are on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, they face raids from both sides. In addition to this, if the raid is being carried out by Tamil officers, there is a good chance that even suspects planters will be shot.

Now that the history lesson is done, are you excited to find this elusive treasure and try it? Hold your horses, because you can’t. There is a chance you may not try it ever, and that is because it is not around anymore. The decrease in forest cover and increase in stringent law enforcement, the rate of cultivation has seen a downfall. These days, most of the cultivation takes place along the Andhra-Odisha border, a hotbed of naxalism. Despite the plantations being huge, there is a difference in what is being planted- it isn’t Idduki Gold, but rather ‘Sheelavathi’, a local variant which is more adapted to the region’s climate. Planting the seeds of original variety resulted in an inferior yield, forcing the cultivators to look for a viable option. 

It is the presence of trans-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient of pot, which determines its quality. Idduki cultivated in Kerala has 8% THC, while that grown in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana has less than 5% of THC. Yet, it is still branded as Idduki Gold and sold in the market. This is due to the fact that the marijuana from the latter states is smuggled to Idduki, Kerala and from there sold on as the premium brand in local and international markets. 

While it has been a lifeline for many, the money the cultivators earn brings with it a sense of guilt, and they say that ‘the money is cursed’.