The cannabis question

Walid Jumblatt’s call for the legalization of cannabis cultivation fits into a global trend, from the USA to Uruguay
Now (Lebanon)
Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Given the dynamics of politics in Lebanon, Jumblatt’s call in and of itself is unlikely to provide the gravitas for an effective change in the legislation. Smoking cannabis is not something we learned from the ‘corrupt’ West. Consumption of psychoactive substances is a long-established tradition in the Near East, including Lebanon. Cannabis cultivation in the Bekaa Valley can be traced back to Roman times, according to some sources. Treating personal consumption of cannabis as a minor offense would allow a better allocation of law enforcement resources towards more serious crime.