ALBANIA: Albanian hemp growers angry that they were sent to jail, after illegal drug mistake

Record ID: 565456

  • Title: ALBANIA: Albanian hemp growers angry that they were sent to jail, after illegal drug mistake
  • Date: 12th January 2006
  • Summary: (CEEF) DUCAJ, ALBANIA (JANUARY 10, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VILLAGE
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAATRKFRUXW4DPNXLCLEHG9LZK
  • Story Text: Five Albanian villagers jailed for two weeks for growing cannabis were set free after a court ruled the plant was actually industrial hemp, raised with the help of a British foundation for export to the United States.
    Interior Minister Sokol Olldashi had appeared on a popular TV show to announce to the country that police had seized a tonne of cannabis.
    It was the second time in five years that Albanian drugs police mistook hemp for cannabis and arrested the growers.
    Cannabis Sativa L, or industrial hemp, contains far less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than Cannabis Sativa, the recreational drug.
    Martin Pellumbi of the Shkrel area farmers' association, was one of those imprisoned, and he is passionate about the programme that sees poor Albanians work in the hemp industry.
    "This is the hemp fibre which has been processed since ancient times," he said.
    "It was used for making ropes. These ropes were used to tie ships to the dock. In more recent times the industry has developed and now modern clothing is produced. We have been able to achieve the same results here in our area, but with the setbacks we have received from both previous governments, this is our last hope to realize such a good business for this area, which will abolish a little bit of the poverty," he said.
    Pellumbi said the association has followed all the Albanian laws applying to hemp growing, and he feels they are being unfairly targeted.
    He is proud of the association's connection with British charity 'Partnership for Growth' which encourages and supports the production of hemp in Albania. Pellumbi flies a British flag outside his office, which is filled with gifts from his British benefactors.
    Since toppling communism, Albania has become a transit route for hard drugs. Cannabis is also cultivated in remote mountain areas.
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