Why it matters: The Taliban have banned cannabis cultivation in Afghanistan, along with other basic freedoms, and violators will be punished according to Sharia law. Cannabis trade is believed to have fueled militancy in the country before the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. Afghanistan is also the second country most frequently reported as the origin of seized cannabis resin worldwide, accounting for 18% of all reports on the main ‘country of origin’ between 2015-2019.
What they are saying: Taliban supreme leader Mawlavi Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree prohibiting the cultivation of cannabis across the country, stating that “cultivation in the whole country is completely banned, and if anyone grows them, the plantation will be destroyed. The courts have also been ordered to punish the violators as per Sharia laws.”
The big picture: Cannabis cultivation is not a limited underground phenomenon in Afghanistan, with up to 24,000 hectares of cannabis grown every year in 17 out of 34 provinces. Before taking power, the Taliban reportedly siphoned off millions of dollars from pot farmers and the smugglers who shipped cannabis. In 2021, the Taliban claimed to have partnered with a medical cannabis company but the company subsequently rebuked this claim. Now, cannabis cultivation is banned in the country under the threat of Sharia law.
What to watch: It remains to be seen what impact the ban on cannabis cultivation will have on the country’s economy and militant activities. The international community may also be wary of any potential connections between the Taliban and the drug trade.
My take: The Taliban’s ban on cannabis cultivation is not surprising given their draconian take on Sharia law, but it may have unintended consequences for the country’s economy and security situation. The Taliban may also struggle to enforce the ban, given how widespread cannabis cultivation is in the country.
