Dealer To Healer: Meet Re-Legalize Nepal Founder Heman Shahi

By King Gregory Headley The First

“Namaste, Brother! How are you feeling?”

More concerned with my health than the interview, Heman B. Shahi’s role as a healer is obvious. “Heman the Healer,” as he is known, was visiting me after I had suffered an asthma attack a week earlier. I described how the experience had taught me not to spread myself too thin, and get proper rest.

“If not, your body will get it for you,” Heman said.

Heman Shahi, founder of Re-Legalize Nepal, on the road of activism around the globe. All photos courtesy of Re-Legalize Nepal.

Who Is Re-Legalize Nepal Founder Heman Shahi?

Born in Nepal, my friend moved to the United States in 2004 at age 18. After 8 years selling clean renewable energy, where he made a big impact by reducing the carbon dioxide footprint by billions of pounds, Heman became a recognizable figure in cannabis. He’s the founder of Re-Legalize Nepal (or “Legalize Nepal”) and Free the Plant Globally, social movements for cannabis legalization that have raised international awareness of conscious consumption. Along the way, the educator has been spotlighted on National Geographic and Vice, his teachings gaining notable fans like Mike Tyson and Steve DeAngelo.

At our meeting, Heman took a deep breath and stared directly ahead. I've seen this look before. He wasn't looking at the wall, but into his past.

“After living in America for so many years, I would enjoy smoking flower,” he explained. “Eventually I was introduced to the cannabis industry by my cousin. Since we--Nepal--had such a rich history with the plant [and] the art of making hash, I joined the [American] legacy market. No one had a culture of hashish [here]… Those days were gone, thanks to the War on Drugs, so I learned how to make hash and everything took off!”

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Heman Shahi On Nepal's Cannabis History

Nepal's history with cannabis goes back thousands of years. The traditional ceremonies, the cultural uses and practices surrounding the flower. Heman recalled first coming across that knowledge at age 15: “I purchased two books, The Cannabis Grow Bible. And Grow like a Pro, by Cannabis Culture. [The latter was] rich with history and not too technical… more culturally inclined… I remember debates [regarding] the origins of cannabis. I've long contested with my peers that, ‘This book says … Nepal,’ only to be dismissed! Like the terp-driven consumer market of today, the 90s held a select few who cared about more than just getting high. Those who care about the people, the culture, and the traditions. The healers. The educators. The cultivators.”

He continued, “Back home we had a lot of sacramental uses of the plant, so we already had a lot of history and culture. Nepal [was] the first country in the world to have a government licensed cannabis shop, cafe, or an event! I mean the whole nine yards. When I was growing up, I used to hear stories about Nepalese Temple Balls being sold in Manhattan during the 60s and 70s. Then, in 1973 with the War on Drugs, we were shut down back home. There were so many stories I grew up with [that] intrigued me!”

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How Did Heman Shahi Create Re-Legalize Nepal?

It was only natural that the advocate bonded with America’s legacy cannabis culture. Heman chuckled and rubbed his chin, recounting his days as a legacy operator. That too, he approached by diving into research. Books and websites such as Dasheeda Dawson’s How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry and nyscannabisconnect.com gave him and fellow entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and Ganjiers ways to enter the cannabis industry successfully. Heman also recommends Eric Schlosser’s Reefer Madness, which chronicles activists Dana Beal, Jack Herer, and others who have fought to free the plant and all plant medicine.

With all that introspection, Heman found himself immersed in tradition and spirituality. He emerged with a new quest: To Re-Legalize Nepal!

“Basically, I went within,” he shared of why he started the movement. “That's when I became more conscious of myself. I realized, it's not about selling flower! I gave up hustling. I chose tradition, and made the move from legacy to legal. I felt a need to share with the world all aspects of the plant… from traditional use, to medicinal, to spiritual, even textiles. Never [before] in history were we able to reach a million or billion people through social media. So I did more research on the medical uses of the plant, [which have been proven by science]. The science also proves we have millions of cannabinoid receptors in our body. And in [Nepalese] tradition, we have ancient tools and technology to trigger them for an ultimate bliss from within, for free. With this insight, I transitioned from being a dealer, to setting myself up for sacramental use. I opened my mind to the medical uses [and] conscious aspects of the plant… to tradition.”

Heman Shahi Is Freeing The Plant With Re-Legalize Nepal

Having done two events with Heman centered around Chillum practices, and the “5 Elements” of Consuming Hash and Flower, I know he brings esoteric knowledge that fosters community and interconnectivity on a spiritual level.

When I asked The Healer for his message, he simply said: “Let's free the plant globally for a chemical-free and conscious next generation of humanity.”

For more about Heman Shahi and Re-Legalize Nepal, visit legalizenepalofficial.com or follow @re_legalizenepal on Instagram.

*A version of this article originally appeared in Honeysuckle's 18th print edition. Click here to order and choose your element - Fire with Bun B or Ice with Queen P!

Written By:

A twin flame, a father, a yogi, a writer, a journalist, a skateboarder, and an entrepreneur. King Gregory, also known as Seven or Skateboard, spends most of his time giving back to the communities he once hustled in helping others and mentoring at-risk youth. A Contributing Editor for New York University's V.O.I.C.E., his writing has also been regularly featured in Washington Square News. Among many other leadership roles in the cannabis community, he is the founder of The Chillum Through Our Eyes educational series.

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