The devaluation of the Lebanese currency, which has already lost over 98% of its value against the dollar, and an inflation rate that has exceeded 200% in certain periods, have pushed the country to the brink of collapse. Faced with this scenario, the government has decided to transform what has been an illegal cultivation of Cannabis sativa for decades into a formal and potentially profitable sector.

According to El Planteo, the plan aims to generate up to $1 billion per year in revenue by regulating the cultivation and export of the plant for medicinal and industrial purposes.

A new chapter in the Bekaa Valley

In the fertile Bekaa Valley, where cannabis cultivation has long been a common practice among rural families, legalization emerges as a ray of hope. For years, farmers have turned to the plant to survive, facing criminalization and a lack of viable agricultural alternatives.

Now, the government aims to formalize this production chain by granting licenses, implementing infrastructure, and integrating the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Industry, and Economy. The goal is to establish a model that combines economic development, health control, and social responsibility.

Challenges and reconstruction

Despite the optimistic outlook, the obstacles are significant. The law allowing for the cultivation of medicinal and industrial cannabis was approved in 2020, but its implementation remains stalled due to political disputes and the absence of an active regulatory authority. Additionally, extreme poverty affecting over 80% of the population and fragile infrastructure hinder any recovery efforts.

Nevertheless, according to El Planteo, there is a growing belief that legalization could become a path to economic and social reconstruction. For farmers, it represents more than a new source of income: it is the possibility to cultivate a future, after years without a harvest of hope.

With information from El.Planteo.