Cannabis in Papua New Guinea

Cannabis in Papua New Guinea is illegal, but the nation is a significant producer and consumer of cannabis. Cannabis is sometimes called spak brus in local parlance.

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History

Cannabis is believed to have been introduced to PNG by Australian and American expatriates in the 1960s-1970s.[1] From them the habit spread to locals, and by the 1980s cannabis could be bought in the major cities.[2]

Agriculture

Though cannabis can be grown throughout PNG, it is largely grown in the mountainous highlands from 1400-2200m in elevation, particularly in the drier areas of the highlands where it is said to grow a more powerful product.[2]

Economy

Cannabis is the only illegal drug produced in significant amounts in PNG, and is the most popular illegal drug consumed there; it is largely grown in Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, and Southern Highlands provinces, and from there transported to other sites in the country.[3][4] Cannabis is produced for domestic use, as well as for export (primarily to Australia), and per some reports cannabis has been bartered for weapons.[5]

Cannabis is a lucrative cash crop[6] in PNG, and is exported to Australia across the Torres Strait. 1990 reports state the "PNG Gold" was valued at AU$12,000 per kilogram.

References
  1. Mark A. R. Kleiman; James E. Hawdon (12 January 2011). Encyclopedia of Drug Policy. SAGE Publications. pp. 630–. ISBN 978-1-4522-6628-2.
  2. R. Michael Bourke; Tracy Harwood (August 2009). Food and Agriculture in Papua New Guinea. ANU E Press. pp. 227–. ISBN 978-1-921536-61-8.
  3. Beno Boeha; John McFarlane (2000). Australia and Papua New Guinea: Crime and the Bilateral Relationship. Australian Defence Studies Centre, Australian Defence Force Academy. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7317-0439-2.
  4. United Nations: International Narcotics Control Board (1 February 2007). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2006. United Nations Publications. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-92-1-148218-8.
  5. International Narcotics Control Board (2002). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2001. United Nations Publications. pp. 80–. ISBN 978-92-1-148145-7.
  6. John Connell (28 July 2005). Papua New Guinea: The Struggle for Development. Routledge. pp. 73–. ISBN 978-1-134-93832-2.

Further reading
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