Farmers harvesting marijuana in the Bekaa Valley

Cannabis is illegal for cultivation, trade and personal use in Lebanon. Nevertheless, large amounts of cannabis are grown illegally within the country, especially in the Bekka Valley, and consumed for personal use in private.[1]

Production

The production of hashish was prohibited in Lebanon in 1926, during the era of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon.[2][3] However, the cannabis industry blossomed during the chaos of the 15-year Lebanese civil war (1975–1990).[4]

The cultivation of cannabis itself was forbidden in 1992, under pressure from the United States.[5]

By 2001, poverty had pressed many farmers to return to growing cannabis. By 2002, production had reached 37,000 acres: double what it was the year prior.[6] Later on, cannabis farms flourished during the Syrian civil war starting from 2011, as the government was more concerned about security issues.[7][8]

Legal status

In 2018, the Parliament speaker Nabih Berri stated, "The Lebanese Parliament is preparing to study and adopt the legislation necessary to legislate the cultivation of cannabis and its manufacture for medical uses in the manner of many European countries and some US states",[9] as he told US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard according to Lebanon's official news agency.[1] This announcement came after the release of a five-year study by McKinsey & Company to boost economic development. With the world's third highest debt, proponents for legalization argued that fostering the marijuana industry could help to reform the country's economy.[8] Some growers that oppose the reform, such as Abu Jafaar of the Bekka Valley (Lebanon's most well known growing area), feared that government intervention will take revenue away from them and into the hands of politicians.[10]

On 21 April 2020, the Parliament passed a law legalizing cannabis cultivation for medical use.[11] Lebanon became the first Arab country to do so.[12] Cultivation of non-psychoactive hemp was also made legal.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Qiblawi, Tamara (2018-07-18). "Lebanon preparing to legalize growing cannabis, says House speaker". CNN. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  2. ^ Clarke, Robert Connell (1998). Hashish!. Red Eye Press. ISBN 978-0-929349-05-3.((cite book)): CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ Rapport sur la situation de la Syrie et du Liban (in French). French Minister of Foreign Affairs. 1925. p. 73. Par arrêté du Haut-Commissaire en date du 8 Octobre 1925, la culture du haschich, qui était particulièrement intense dans la Békaa (Grand Liban), a été interdite à compter du ier janvier 1926.
  4. ^ "Illicit cannabis farming thrives in Lebanon". BBC News. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  5. ^ Réalités (in French). Le Spectacle du monde. 1996. p. 354. Les Américains ne lâchant pas prise, le gouvernement libanais interdisait officiellement la culture du pavot et du cannabis en 1992.
  6. ^ Booth, Martin (2015-06-16). Cannabis: A History. St. Martin's Publishing Group. pp. 364–. ISBN 978-1-250-08219-0.
  7. ^ Bassam, Laila; Evans, Dominic (2014-05-20). "Lebanon's cannabis farms flourish while army looks away". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  8. ^ a b Hall, Richard (2018-07-18). "Budding business: How cannabis could transform Lebanon". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  9. ^ Khodr, Zeina (2018-08-11). "Lebanon to consider legalising medicinal cannabis". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  10. ^ Harvey, Adam (2018-10-19). "Lebanese cannabis farmers fight against legalisation of the drug". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  11. ^ "Lebanon legalizes cannabis farming for medicinal use". Reuters. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  12. ^ Karam, Joyce (2020-04-22). "Lebanon becomes first Arab country to legalise cannabis for medical use". The National. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  13. ^ Lemon, Jason (2020-04-21). "Lebanon passes legislation legalizing medical marijuana cultivation". Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-11-16.


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