NCJ Number
199437
Journal
Innovation Exchange Issue: 10 Dated: Winter 2003 Pages: 30-32
Date Published
2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
After reviewing the history of hashish use in Israel and around the world, this article identifies the countries that are the sources of hashish, discusses Israeli involvement in the international hashish trade, reports on hashish prices in Israel, and discusses the future prospects for hashish in Israel.
Abstract
Hashish was the drug of choice in Palestine-Israel for centuries, but in the 1990's the popularity of the drug suddenly collapsed in favor of marijuana. In the worldwide market for hashish, Lebanon had been until the 1990's far and away the main producer, especially for the European consumer. Then Lebanon's growers began to switch to opium poppies, and Morocco took over as the primary hashish source. Between 1989 and 1999, although seizures of hashish worldwide climbed by almost 100 percent, most of this increase was accounted for by European consumption; elsewhere in the world, the consumption of hashish was falling, as it was in Israel. Many Israelis, not a few of them resident outside of Israel, are kingpins of the international drug-smuggling routes, in particular of the ecstasy trade. Lately it seems they have also assumed at least half of the hashish trade as well, from South Africa to the United Kingdom, from Morocco to Europe. In Israel hashish is more expensive than marijuana, which makes the trade more profitable. The Israel Police report that prices vary by quality rather than country of origin. The recent reappearance of hashish consumption in Israel may be a random phenomenon. Possible reasons for this reappearance are discussed.