Since the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, international efforts have attempted to reduce the production and harvest of opium poppies, Papaver somniferum (sleepy poppy). It has been remarked numerous times, and throughout modern history, that Afghanistan produces the majority of the worlds opium. Recent figures state that 90% of heroin worldwide originates as Afghan opium. Remember the failed British Invasions of Afghanistan (the first, second, and third)? Of course not, but that was also a ploy, in part, to control the extremely lucrative Charas trade between Afghanistan and British controlled India (an important trade route still today). Despite repeated attempts, the report report commissioned by the UK and executed in 1949 found that:
- Abuse was not widespread
- Regulating traffic would be near impossible with such porous and mountainous borders
- Chara and opiate use were culturally accepted practices, and
- Taxing chara use or import would be difficult at best
While the British failed to suppress Chara use, 21st century Americans knew they could do better than their cross-Atlantic pre-democratic progenitors. Ironically, in attempts to disrupt opium production -often the sole method of subsistence for Afghan farmers- US policy has pushed farmers to instead cultivate cannabis.
Ain’t that unexpected. Who would’ve thunk that by destroying a national economic, agricultural and social tradition, farmers would turn to something else to support themselves? The best part, by US classifications, Cannabis, a schedule 1 drug, is “more illegal” than opium, classified as schedule 2. So, by our own measurement system, we’ve made anything but progress.
