Context: Recently, Lebanon becomes first Arab country to legalise Cannabis(Marijuana Cultivation) farming for medical use in bid to beat economic crisis.

Key Points

• It has become the first Arab country to legalise cannabis farming for medical and industrial purposes – a move that could generate lucrative exports and foreign currency as the country struggles to cope with a financial crisis.
• Although growing the plant was previously illegal, cannabis has long been farmed openly in the fertile and impoverished Bekaa Valley.
• According to the United Nations, the country is the world’s third largest supplier of cannabis resin, or hashish, after Morocco and Afghanistan.
• The new law, will regulate the already existing cultivation efforts and help stem unlawful production of the plant, with all recreational production and use remaining illegal.

About Golden Crescent: The Golden Crescent includes three countries namely Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Together they form a crescent in the map and hence the name Cresent.

• Afghanistan was the largest opium producer in 1990s and in twenty years still stays as one of the largest producers of Opium 

About Golden Triangle: The Gold Triangle includes Thailand, Myanmar and Laos where the regions meet at the confluence of Ruak and Mekong river and hence forming a golden triangle.

Efficacy of Marijuana’s medicinal purposes

• Cannabis is effective in pain management, but it is weaker and less safe than opiates that are approved.
• A study did show beneficial effects of cannabis in a small percentage of extremely rare form of epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
• Similarly, there is no data to support its use in oncology practice outside of clinical experiments cannabis derivatives are known to have immunosuppressive that can promote cancer.
• In summary, its medicinal benefits aren’t as strong as presented by the proponents of legalization safer and effective alternatives are available in the market.

Challenges for India in legalizing Marijuana

• India has a history of misuse of even prescription drugs that are otherwise beneficial.
• In Indian context, when prescription drugs are grossly misused, It is hard to use ensure disciplined used of cannabis.
• Already India is struggling to control the three addictive substances of tobacco, alcohol and areca nut.
• As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 270 million Indians use tobacco and it kills around 1.35 million Indians every year.
• Nearly 30% of India’s adult population is using alcohol, leading to 3.3 million deaths.
• Legalization of cannabis is not only going to worsen these alarming statistics, but also serve as a gateway for one of these carcinogens.
• Introduction of yet another psychoactive drug will wreak havoc on a population still struggling with tobacco, alcohol and pan masala.