Cannabis in Tierrador

Cannabis farm in Jackson, Alcosky

Tierrador is one of few countries in the world to fully legalize the recreational, medicinal, and commercial use of cannabis, of which it has been legal since the Cannabis and Copium Commerce Act of 1993, which legalized both cannabis and copium. Cannabis had played a large historical role in Qabóri culture and daily life, before its prohibition in 1939 by the authoritarian Walakee State. The prohibition would last until a few years following the Walakee State's downfall. From that point on, the Tierradorian cannabis industry would grow to be one of the largest, most profitable and influential industries in the country, with it even shaping the cannabis industries of surrounding countries, such as Porlos and Ceylonia.

Despite the heavy restrictions put into place on cannabis by the Walakee regime, it was still widely-used illegally throughout the country, with almost no way to stop the massive flow of drugs from Tierrador's extensive northern border with Istrenya. Various cartels based in Istrenya, Ormatia, and Kelekona regularly trafficked the drug into Tierrador with below-average effort, leading to many issues in quality and safety coming to light. Post-Walakee public opinions shifted heavily in favor of legalization, citing its use in medicine along with being able to use it safely. Cannabis eventually became a commodity, and firms began to market the product in a similar style to alcohol.

Today, the Tierradorian cannabis industry is considered part of the larger cash crop industry. It is commonly consumed and available in cannabis dispensaries, liquor stores, some supermarket chains (including Pasco, Alcosky Tire, and Timê Maher), gas stations, and sporting events. Cannabis usage in Tierradorian culture is on a similar level to alcohol, with its usage along with drinking in social events is often encouraged. In 2035, Tierradorian cannabis sales accounted for $74 billion, making the country the largest consumer of cannabis in the world. Because of its climate and government subsidization, Tierrador is the largest exporter of cannabis in the world.

History

Cannabis had been cultivated and used for its psychoactive effects throughout South Crona since the late 17th century. A popular myth in Tierradorian culture states that cannabis first reached South Crona after a crew-less Varshani cargo boat crashed ashore in Soqweux, in the further western reaches of the Woqalate. The ship had been carrying 1200 pounds of cannabis seeds, and its original destination had been unknown, however recovered maps and journals have lead historians to believe that the ship had set course for present-day Naqili. A poor Qabóri farmer had discovered the boxes of seeds and used began growing it in his farm. Due to the crop's potent effects when inhaled, residents of the surrounding areas began purchasing the crops upon their harvesting. Eventually, cannabis's popularity quickly grew throughout Soqweux, and later throughout the Woqalate. Qabór began exporting large amounts of cannabis to Kiravia and Burgundie in the 16th century, and it largely grew the Woqalate's economy. However, the international trade of the crop would be short-lived, as many of the countries involved in the trade began to criminalize the usage of cannabis for its psychoactive effects. Eventually, the cannabis trade would be limited to a domestic role throughout Qabór, as the Woqalate's cultural norms gave the crop's legality a very protected status. In 1772, the territorially-reduced Woqalate produced and consumed 725,000 pounds of cannabis. In the early 19th-century, Qabóri-based trading firms had bypassed a large majority of the restrictions on the international trade of cannabis, which led to strained relations between the Woqalate and various Occidental countries.

After the 1911 Qabóri Coup d'Etat, the newly-imposed Walakee State took a highly-antagonistic view to cannabis usage in Tierradorian society, and in 1918, the Outdoor Smoking Act was signed into effect, restricting its usage to outdoors only. This created a domino effect which resulted the Drug and Alcohol Restriction Act of 1939, which prohibited the recreational use outright. In 1940, the Alcohol and Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, or ANEB, was established, specializing in suppressing the illegal alcohol and narcotic trade to and from Tierrador. The prohibition of cannabis had also carried over into Ceylonia and Porlos, both doing so in 1943. In 1950, 65% of narcotics arrests in Qabór involved cannabis, and because they were considered to be less serious than the morphine and opium cases of the time, resulted in much more tame penalties, such as a weekend in a holding cell. When Pedro Kintón became the Grand Marshal in 1953, he began his tenure by hiking the penalties for cannabis possession to 3–6 years in Imperial prison, and the sale was made punishable by 7–14 years with a mandatory 5 years before consideration of parole. Major violators, including cultivating or transporting massive amounts of the drug, were even met with 10 years in a summit labor camp.

The harsh punishments only boosted the drug's popularity, however, as many early hippie cultures in Ulunkheria experimented with cannabis and copium, seeing the massive risks taken as a boost in adrenaline. The increased transportation of cannabis into Tierrador from Istrenya, Kelekona, and Ormatia resulted in Kintón declaring the South Cronan Narco Wars. Various conflicts would stem from the declaration, including the Calico Straits Crisis in 1964, the Mosquito War from 1965 to 1970, the Tapkoii Standoff in 1974, the Insular Emergencies from 1970 to 1982, and the Cowboy Crisis from 1981 to 1983. In 1967, Porlos had repealed its cannabis prohibition act, legalizing the drug throughout its jurisdiction. This skyrocketed the public's favor of cannabis legalization, though Kintón was able to keep it illegal and criminalized even after his death. In 1986, Ulunkheria had taken advantage of Nathan Hauqač's liberalized devolution of power to the commonwealths and legalized the medicinal use of cannabis, which then resulted in its recreational legalization three days before the Ten Cities' Uprising in 1989.

After the fall of the Walakee State in 1989, many cannabis legalization campaigns were established as a way to grab the attention of the House of Woqelee, along with convincing them to reform the cannabis laws. In January 1992, Las Rozas became the second commonwealth to legalize recreational cannabis, and was later followed by Teschego in October 1992. That same month, the Cannabis and Copium Commerce Act had been sponsored by delegates from several parties in the Qangreč. In an almost unilateral vote in the Qangreč, the act was signed into effect by Mokhar II on January 6, 1993, effectively legalizing recreational, medicinal, and commercial cannabis nationwide. The nationwide legalization process occurred much slower compared to the legalization of alcohol in 1976, with distribution falling under heavy regulations, such as inter-commonwealth commerce still being illegal. By 1998, cannabis had become one of the most popular cash crops, and massive cannabis farms had boosted the economies of Alcosky, Qaleqa, Onancía, Tansher, and Auqali. In 2005, inter-commonwealth commerce of cannabis was legalized, and in 2006, Parténát became the first company to sell the crop online. By 2015, 35% of cannabis sales were done online.

Recent cases of heavy pesticide use in cannabis beginning in 2019 have discouraged Tierradorians from buying cannabis from larger firms such as Parténóc, Pasco, Atulasan, and Songun Cultivation, instead electing to buy from local, independently-owned dispensaries and farms. In 2023, potency testing facility employee Lazón Etulet sued Pasco and Atulasan for deliberately inflating the potency level of certain strains, and firing him once he attempted to bring the situation to light. Etulet was awarded $200,000 for a wrongful termination lawsuit. The fraudulent testing lawsuit eventually prompted the Qangreč to pass legislation requiring the presence of ANTB agents in every testing facility in Tierrador, and increasing penalties against distributors that fraudulently inflate the potency amount. Many boycotts against Atulasan and Parténóc from 2023 to 2027 resulted in half of cannabis sales taking place between small businesses and local distributors by 2029. In 2030, the Tierradorian Republicans attempted to pass legislation heavily restricting the usage of cannabis, however the legislation was not successful.

Public opinion

Due to its historical cultural significance in Pan-Qabóri civilization, the South Cronan general public had always been in favor of cannabis legalization, even during its prohibition period. Statistical records showed that an consistent estimate of 50-65% of Tierradorians used cannabis recreationally from 1965 to 1985. In a 1990 survey conducted by QBC, 86% of the sample group believed that using and selling cannabis should be legal. Many Tierradorians celebrate "Cannabis Day" every year on January 6, the anniversary of the crop's nationwide legalization, along with 4/20 day (April 20) being designated as an official holiday in some cities, though neither are imperially-recognized holidays.

Regulations

Indoor growing facility in Valteqa, Qaleqa

The production and distribution of cannabis is regulated by the Commercial Narcotics Authority (CNA) and the Alcohol and Narcotics Trade Bureau (ANTB). Both CNA and ANTB were established in 1993 from the Cannabis and Copium Commerce Act, and are child agencies of the Imperial Office of Commerce. Cannabis laws are largely determined on the commonwealth level, with the 18 commonwealths being able to determine maximum selling amounts, age requirements, and unlicensed cultivation limits. Despite that, there are some general rules which are enforced nationwide, including the general minimum age of purchase being 18, with the exception of Qaleqa, where the minimum age is 19, and the minimum age being 21 in Anbarsnia and Tansher.

Major distributors

Once cannabis cultivation was legalized in 1993, 700 farmers had received licenses for the crop's cultivation, and by 1995, that number had nearly quadrupled to 2,700 farmers. By 2028, there were 13,000 licensed cannabis farms covering 6.4 million acres of land, and 216 licensed distributors, with 43 that are listed on both the Taisgol and Qabór Stock Exchanges. The largest firm, Parténát, was founded in 1994 by Mikhail Tobuskevet as a franchise of cannabis dispensaries, and, due to the reform's slower process leaving only few legitimate nationalized producers, quickly grew to be the largest distributor in Tierrador, and later, throughout Crona. In 2000, Parténóc began selling their products in Timê Maher hardware stores, and the retailer marketed the product as a method of relaxation after spending time working on outdoor projects.

Cannabis as a commodity

Cannabis cultivators are required to obtain an annual license from the Commercial Narcotics Authority. As of 2036, there were 32,461 licensed cultivators across Tierrador.