Afghanistan to become world's top marijuana producer

Posted By Blake Hounshell Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - 12:51 PM Share

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime today released yet another report anticipating a bumper opium crop this year.

But I'm more interested in the report's finding that Afghanistan is also becoming the world's top center for marijuana cultivation. Eighteen percent of villages are planning to grow cannabis this year, a 5 percent jump over 2007.

The news reminded me of a story from awhile back about how Taliban fighters were using 10-foot-high marijuana forests for cover:

Bronwen Roberts/AFP/Getty Images

Guess there's going to be a lot more of that from now on. Perhaps it's time to try a different strategy?

EXPLORE:SOUTH ASIA, AFGHANISTAN, DRUGS & CRIME

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