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Lebanese marijuana farmers fight security forces

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BEIRUT | Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:39am EDT

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Farmers armed with machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars forced government troops to abandon an operation to destroy their illegal cannabis crop in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday, a witness said.

No casualties were reported in the exchange of fire but two security force vehicles were hit by bullets, the witness said.

During Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, the fertile Bekaa Valley produced up to 1,000 metric tons (1.1023 * 1000 tons) of cannabis resin annually and 30 to 50 metric tons of opium, used to make heroin.

The crop was eradicated under a United Nations program between 1991-1993 but it has reemerged as the security forces struggle to control the volatile country. There are no reliable statistics on how much cannabis is produced in Lebanon now.

Security forces run operations to destroy annual marijuana crops but face resistance from angry farmers who see the lucrative and easy-to-grow crop as a way to make money for their impoverished community.

A security source said government forces were regrouping and planning a new operation to destroy the crop.

(Reporting by Afif Diab; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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Comments (7)
jway wrote:
One day the UN might learn that where there’s demand there’ll always be supply. The ONLY way to prevent things like this from happening again is to remove cannabis from the UN’s “Single Convention” treaty and allow stores to sell legally-grown cannabis to adults at prices low enough to prevent illegal competition – EXACTLY the same as we do with beer and wine today.

Jul 23, 2012 9:43am EDT  --  Report as abuse
goldenrules1 wrote:
“forced government troops to abandon an operation to destroy their illegal cannabis crop” I guess that’s what happens when you try to take away someone’s only source of income and push them deeper into poverty. What was the plan to give these growers a new source of income? I have no sympathy for the government troops.

Jul 23, 2012 10:49am EDT  --  Report as abuse
Jose3 wrote:
I am not the least bit saddened to see someone standing up to United Nations anarchy.

Jul 23, 2012 10:52am EDT  --  Report as abuse
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