Lebanon is going through one of the worst economic crises in its modern history. Since 2019, the financial collapse has wiped out the savings of millions, shattering public confidence in institutions. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 98% of its value against the dollar, while inflation topped 200% at various points in 2024, according to the World Bank. On top of this, Israeli attacks this year and last destroyed key infrastructure and displaced thousands of families. Today, more than 80% of the population lives below the poverty line.
As in many parts of the world, Lebanon has long had a thriving underground cannabis and hashish industry, especially in regions like the Bekaa Valley, where it’s been seen for years as an alternative source of income.
In April 2020, the Lebanese Parliament passed a law legalizing the cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. However, its implementation stalled amid political disagreements and the absence of a regulatory body.
Now, the government has decided to tackle two long-standing issues —the economic crisis and illicit cultivation— by turning them into a single potential solution: the legalization and regulation of cannabis. The goal is to move beyond decades of persecution and transform an informal activity into a legitimate economic driver that creates jobs and fuels local development.
The state’s plan includes overseeing the entire production cycle: soil and water analysis, manufacturing and packaging, farmer licensing, and inter-ministerial coordination among the Health, Industry, Economy, and Agriculture ministries.
If the plan unfolds as projected, regulated production and exports could generate around USD 1 billion a year: a meaningful sum for a country desperate for new revenue streams.
Dani Fadel, head of the National Authority for the Regulation of Cannabis Cultivation, told the Anadolu Agency that the sector has enormous economic potential.
He also emphasized that cooperation with other countries …
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Author: Camila Berriex / High Times
