A plan to jump start Lebanon's economy: Export cannabis to the world

'The quality we have is one of the best in the world,' said Lebanon's trade minister, adding cannabis could become a one-billion-dollar industry
Haaretz (Israel)
Sunday, July 8, 2018

Consulting firm McKinsey & Co. presented a document detailing proposals to jump start Lebanon's economy to President Michel Aoun, Bloomberg reported. The report highlighted some "quick wins" Lebanon can implement to get back on track - including legalizing cannabis production for export. Caretaker Economy and Trade Minister Raed Khoury added Lebanon could legalize cultivation and export the drug for medicinal treatments: “The quality we have is one of the best in the world,” he said, adding cannabis could become a one-billion-dollar industry. Bloomberg notes that "cannabis is cultivated clandestinely in the eastern Bekaa Valley, which is dominated by Hezbollah." (See also: Lebanon will legalize growing marijuana after McKinsey evaluated it as a boost for the country's troubled economy)

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