Lebanese army destroys cannabis fields in northern Bekaa
The Lebanese army has destroyed several cannabis fields in the villages of Zarazir, Deir el-Ahmar, and Chlifa in Northern Bekaa, according to reports from correspondent Sarah Abdallah. The operation also involved the destruction of cannabis plants found inside residential properties and the arrest of a suspect.
This action comes as the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam approved the appointments of the members of the regulatory authority established under a 2020 law legalizing the cultivation of medical cannabis in Lebanon.
In 2020, amid a severe economic crisis, the Lebanese Parliament passed legislation authorizing the cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. The law gives the state exclusive authority over the production and trade of cannabis, which has long been grown illegally in the Bekaa Valley. Currently, cultivation in the region is mainly controlled by local Shia clans. Prior to the law's approval, Lebanon had sought guidance from the international consulting firm McKinsey & Co in 2018 to address economic challenges. McKinsey had recommended legalizing cannabis cultivation for specific uses, given its widespread availability.
Lebanese cannabis is informally recognized abroad for its high quality as a recreational product. Medical cannabis cultivation differs from recreational use through specific standards, including selected varieties with high CBD and low THC content, traceability, and limited pesticide use.
