The Lebanese Parliament prepares to vote on the legalization of cannabis

The Lebanese parliament is preparing to vote on the legalization of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, a decision that, according to Al Jazeera, is part of an «effort to stimulate its stagnant economy and curb the illicit production of the psychoactive plant.».

The bill, which was approved by the parliamentary committees ...and which is now heading toward a final vote, nevertheless applies only to cannabis containing less than 1% of THC.

The bill establishes a regulatory authority responsible for issuing licenses for every activity related to the plant, from the importation of seeds and seedlings to cultivation, processing of cannabis, and the export of its derivatives.

Licenses may be granted to Lebanese pharmaceutical companies, industries capable of processing hemp fibers or extracting oils, and foreign companies that hold a license to operate in the cannabis industry in their country of origin.

In addition, licenses may also be issued to specialized agricultural cooperatives based in Lebanon, to Lebanese citizens such as farmers or landowners, as well as to laboratories and research centers qualified to work with controlled substances.

A missed opportunity

One of the stated objectives of the bill is to reduce the strain on Lebanon’s judicial and correctional systems, which are heavily burdened by the local cannabis trade. But rather than decriminalizing cannabis or reducing penalties, it calls for «strengthening criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this law.».

The bill would also prohibit anyone with a criminal record from obtaining a license to grow or process cannabis in any way.

It thus excludes tens of thousands of people who have served a sentence or have been convicted of a cannabis-related offense, such as cultivation or use, particularly in the Bekaa region, where most cannabis is currently grown, unless there is a blanket amnesty for past offenses.