Following his announcement last week that Lebanon will be reviewing the necessary studies to legalize the cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal uses, house speaker Nabih Berri commissioned on Thursday a committee of experts to prepare a draft law to this effect. On the other hand, An Nahar newspaper wrote that a few week ago, Speaker of the House Berri disclosed to a delegation from the Regie Libanais des Tabacs et Tombacs that he will set up a public organization to manage the plantation, manufacturing and trade of cannabis similar to the Regie and asked if they can undertake the task, to which they promised to study the option. For his part, former minister Fadi Abboud voiced fears that the projected body will become a monopoly similar to the Regie, especially if the issuance of permits became political, recommending that the private sector does the job. On the subject, An Nahar reported that growing cannabis in Baalbek-Hermel is preserved to a few large scale farmers and influential parties, pointing to divided opinions among area residents on legalization of marijuana. A large scale farmer wanted on multiple charges welcomed the proposal should it steer clear of interferences, stressing the farmers’ readiness to cooperate with and relinquish a share of the profits to the State only if a general amnesty was released. Meanwhile, former mayor of Brital, Sheikh Ahmad Ismael, refused to promote the concept of legalization of the cannabis in the Bekaa, dubbing it as a means to further distort the repute of the area, and warning that the majority of the Bekaa’s youth will turn to marijuana. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, July 20, 23, 2018)