CAIRO: In one of the strangest developments in Egypt, complaints have been circulating over the shortage of hashish in the country over the past couple of weeks. Rumors have been flying over what has happened to the popular drug, from the government taking control to drug busts to a growth shortage. Many Egyptians want their hash and simply are not getting it. According to one avid smoker and recent graduate from the American University in Cairo, “police busted over 100 kilos of hash two weeks ago and this has made dealers very scared. People have been arrested and nobody is willing to pass along anything at this point.” A week ago Saturday, the country's pro-government newspaper al-Ahram reported the Interior Ministry has taken control of the market and is attempting to crush the illicit hash trade in Egypt. “A report by General Security confirmed… the complete destruction of the hashish trade in Egypt,” the daily reported. One dealer, however, told Bikya Masr that instead of “crushing” the market, the minister's office is “attempting to control and sell hash at prices that we can't afford.” Of course, these are only rumors, which were vehemently denied on Tuesday by officials when contacted. “We are doing our job of ending drug use in this country,” began one official. “Drugs are illegal and we will not put up with any of this. Rumors that Habib al-Adly is in charge of selling drugs is ridiculous and crazy.” Hossam, a middle-aged dealer, says that hash has not gone completely dry. “You just have to know the right people and how to get it. It might cost a bit more these days because the government is cracking down, but it can be found,” he said. Last Thursday, he spent four hours driving around Cairo, delivering thousands of Egyptian pounds worth of the green substance, much to the smiles of local residents. One “piece” of hash, referred to colloquially as a coin – about half the size of a ball point pen – usually runs between LE 100 and LE 150 ($16 – $23). Now, there seems to be little smokers can do to get their hands on the substance, but they are optimistic the situation will change quickly and the market will return to normal. Another dealer said this is nothing normal, pointing to a similar “shortage” a few years ago, but “this was over in about a month's time because the government understands they have bigger fish to fry and if they cut hash people will go to other drugs instead.” In Lebanon, for example, the government attempted to cut down on hash usage in the early part of the 21st century. It succeeded, said Mazen, who was a regular user, but it also succeeded in creating a new market for harder drugs, including cocaine and heroin. “When the government tries to end the use of these simple drugs, which are no worse than alcohol, people will turn to other means to get their high,” Mazen began. “Here in Lebanon, when hash started to dry up, heroin and cocaine became the drugs of choice and now you have tons of people using these substances on a regular basis.” This is something the Egyptian government most likely does not want. With unrest growing across the country due to political and economic problems, hash has become the past time for many attempting to avoid the realities on the ground, said one smoker. “We have to put up with so much crap on a daily basis and alcohol is more expensive than hash, so it has become the Egyptian thing to do, and if it goes away, you will have a lot of angry people,” the smoker said. For now, the hash shortage continues and there is little users can do except wait. But wait they will. “I will wait until I can get my hands on a large amount, to stock up so if this happens again I am ready.” The majority of Egyptian hash comes from the North Coast of the country, Morocco and Afghanistan. BM
