cannabisnews.com: Morocco Losing Forests To Cannabis Morocco Losing Forests To Cannabis Posted by CN Staff on December 15, 2003 at 20:16:18 PT By Owen Bowcott Source: Guardian Unlimited Cannabis production is expanding so fast in Morocco that it is causing soil erosion and the destruction of long-established forests, the UN reported yesterday. The illicit cash crop, which supplies most of the resin used by Europeans, is estimated to be worth £7bn a year to trafficking networks.As much as a quarter of the agricultural land in the Rif, the mountainous region where the plant is traditionally grown, is given over to cannabis cultivation, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says. Two-thirds of the local population - as many as 800,000 people depend on the crop."Through its expansion, cannabis production threatens the environment of the Rif," said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of UNODC."It risks corrupting the social and economic structure and compromising any prospects of sustainable development there."The increase was partially due to the "spectacular expansion of drug consumption" in Europe since the 1970s, he said.The report reinforces previous alerts over the scale of the country's Moroccan drug industry. Earlier this summer, EU agronomists effectively abandoned a £750,000 programme aimed at persuading Moroccan farmers to cultivate avocados rather than cannabis.The survey, carried out with the cooperation of the Moroccan government, shows that 134,000 hectares are given over to growing what is locally known as kif . As much as 47,400 tonnes is harvested."In the past 20 years, cannabis cultivation has spread from the traditional areas in the central Rif, where it has been grown since the 15th century, to new areas," the UN report says.As much as 1.5% of Morocco's arable land is given over to cannabis, with the average family income derived from it estimated at £1,280, although prices have fallen sharply in the past four years in Britain, possibly as a result of the rapid rise in homegrown marijuana production.The gradual softening of laws against cannabis possession do not, however, appear to have had any significant effect so far on demand for Moroccan hashish.Most of the money from illegal sales, however, does not return to the farmers, whose combined income is believed to be about £141m, compared with £7bn earned in Europe.An earlier UNODC report suggested that cannabis is the most widely produced, smuggled and consumed illegal drug in the world.Special Report: Drugs in Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.htmlSource: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Author: Owen BowcottPublished: Tuesday, December 16, 2003Copyright: 2003 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmCannabis Outstrips Imports from Moroccohttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15739.shtmlCannabis Economy Brings in £11bn http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15353.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on December 16, 2003 at 08:42:45 PT: LET IT GROW! Have you ever heard Eric Clapton's song, entitled Let It Grow? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by lag on December 16, 2003 at 06:19:07 PT new excuses seem to be on the rise I wish Grass was a living documentary that could be added to, because it seems that more and more sections could be added weekly. This week: It Destroys Rainforests!!! Cue the dramatic music.Anyway...I thought Cannabis was a good crop for the soil, I guess anything can be bad if you push for maximum output...prolly stresses the soil. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 15, 2003 at 21:38:15 PT 13th step Thank you for the link. I saw the show and taped it but I know others didn't get to see it. I've been checking for the transcripts and they still aren't online yet. They sure are slow. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by 13th step on December 15, 2003 at 21:33:24 PT If anyone hasn't seen it yet... Jesse Ventura's America Marijuana segment:http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2365.htmlA little loose , IMO. I think he could have used examples for how science has shown evidence contrary to the feds position.But still good , this issue getting discussed and aired to people who may not know anything about cannabis.It was still good to hear him tell the fed puppet he was lying... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on December 15, 2003 at 20:25:55 PT Poison sales will go up now Through its expansion, cannabis production threatens the environment of the Rif," Poison sales are all that is important. Just ask any Colombian. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on December 15, 2003 at 20:18:30 PT Leading cause of rain forest destruction is now SOYBEANS [ Post Comment ] Post Comment