“My good pal, you’re a citizen of Athens, a metropolis which may be very nice and really well-known for its knowledge and energy – are you not ashamed of caring a lot for the making of cash and for fame and status, once you neither assume nor care about knowledge and reality and the advance of your soul?” – Plato
Subsequent up in our hashish tradition articles, we’re heading over to the legendary and philosophical world of Greece. The place democracy was based, theatre was created, and a few of the world’s best thinkers philosophised till the cows got here residence. This time, we’ll be heading straight to the capital; the bustling, activist fuelled streets of Athens. When you’ve ever wandered these streets, then you definately’ll know that the scent of hashish is way from a rarity. Nevertheless, the query is, what’s the hashish tradition like on the market? Greece is understood traditionally to be a spot that leads the world with its new and progressive concepts, however the place does it sit on hashish? As we speak we’ll be delving into the legal guidelines and cultural views of mom nature’s best plant in Athens, Greece.
Whether or not you’re speaking in regards to the US, Europe, or wherever else on the earth, hashish tradition can fluctuate considerably. To find out about legal guidelines throughout the globe, be sure to subscribe to The Medical Hashish Weekly E-newsletter, your hub for all issues cannabis-related.
Athens
Athens is the capital metropolis of Greece within the modern-day, however was additionally the center of historical Greece, which was a really highly effective place within the fifth century BC. Greece dominated the lands again then. The town is dotted with some unimaginable landmarks from that point – such because the insanely stunning Acropolis. Athens has a inhabitants of 664,000, which for a capital metropolis isn’t enormous. Nonetheless, the streets are nonetheless busy and energetic. Actually, Athens is Europe’s oldest capital metropolis. The town has a few of the greatest meals on the earth, unimaginable conventional music, and climate all 12 months spherical that the majority international locations can be jealous of.
While Greece had been the creators of democracy and the judiciary system in 500 BC, the blood of activism stays firmly of their veins. Greece has been dealt a harsh hand since becoming a member of the European Union in 1981, and was pressured to alternate their forex on the time – the drachma – to their present one – the euro. This alternate triggered enormous money owed in Greece, and compelled the nation to take 341 billion euros value of loans from neighbouring EU international locations. These loans have been slowly paid again by means of excessive taxation, poverty and recession. Many activists in Greece, similar to ex-chancellor Varoufakis, imagine that that is an unfair debt and Greece ought to combat in opposition to it. He famously mentioned this, which is a real illustration of the activist blood inside the Greek individuals:
“If the ‘Athens Spring’ – when the Greek individuals courageously rejected the catastrophic austerity circumstances of the earlier bailouts – has one lesson to show, it’s that Greece will get well solely when the European Union makes the transition from ‘We the states’ to ‘We the European individuals.’”
Nevertheless, while Greece and the individuals of Athens face austerity measures, and unemployment, town is an unimaginable place. Let’s check out a few of its highlights.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis is an historical citadel, which is located on a mountain in the course of Athens. The acropolis incorporates a few of Athens’ best and oldest buildings. These embody the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. One among these, the Parthenanon, might be probably the most spectacular. The structure is championed right now as a few of the greatest ever by historical civilisation. However, not solely that, the acropolis is supposedly the situation the place democracy and the judicial system was created. Individuals as soon as sat up there a whole bunch of years in the past, banging their heads collectively, and dreaming up a greater world. The stroll to the highest is gorgeous and the view from the highest is unimaginable – it’s like a sea of tradition. Actually, in your approach up, there’s a small rocky mountain referred to as Areopagus, which frequently has individuals sitting round consuming beers and smoking joints. You’ll want to be part of them.
Greek Meals
Greek Meals is not like every other international locations’ on the earth and, for some, particularly me, it’s the very best meals on the earth. Souvlaki, Moussaka, Greek Salad, Olives, Tzatzik, and lots of many extra are dishes that may single-handedly blow your style buds away. The reality is that the fixed solar, and delightful climate in Greece, signifies that the greens are extraordinarily ripe and juicy when used as components. Exploring the streets of Athens, you’ll not be stunned to search out a whole bunch of small tavernas that may make you a small, fast souvlaki or a extra substantial meal when you’d desire. The scent is all over the place and it makes your mouth water. Actually, it may very well be mentioned that Greek meals can be the right factor to quell munchies.
Hashish In Athens
There’s a consensus regulation amongst all European international locations that any substance that incorporates greater than 0.2% THC is deemed unlawful. Nevertheless, many European international locations are starting to dictate their very own hashish legal guidelines. Luxembourg recently legalized cannabis, Germany appears to be heading in the right direction, Spain and the Netherlands are additionally function fashions to the remainder of Europe…however what about Greece? Properly, Greece might be not fairly on the identical stage as these international locations but on the subject of weed legalization. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to recollect that there’s de facto and de jure change. While the de jure (legal guidelines) place in the direction of hashish is sluggish in Greece, the de facto (steets) place is totally different. Hashish will not be a tough substance to return throughout when you’re strolling in regards to the streets of Athens. And, afterall, that’s the place tradition is – on the streets. However, to begin with, let’s check out a few of the hashish legal guidelines in Athens and Greece as an entire.
What’s Unlawful?
The Greek drug laws of 1987 said that each one use of medication was unlawful and will result in imprisonment. This was the case even when small quantities of hashish was discovered on somebody for private use. This sounds extraordinarily harsh, proper? Properly, fortunately, amendments have been made since then. Since 2013, if somebody is present in possession of a ‘small amount of hashish for private use’, they are going to be sentenced to five months in jail most. That is nonetheless quite a bit, although.
Promoting hashish can be unlawful in Greece. This act may result in life imprisonment if the individual in query is ready of authority; like a instructor or a health care provider. Alternatively, a effective is given – this may be wherever between 50,000 and 500,000 euros. As well as, when you’re caught rising hashish in Greece, you’ll be prone to even be punished. It’s because rising hashish – even when at residence – is totally unlawful.
The Greek authorities may be very strict on hashish and drug legal guidelines, they usually don’t appear to have fairly but received the memo from different, extra progressive international locations.
What’s Authorized?
So, the query is, is any a part of the hashish plant authorized in Greece? CBD merchandise are authorized in Greece, as they’re within the majority of the world. Nevertheless, they aren’t wherever close to as in style as different European international locations.
What about medical hashish? Properly, in 2017, medical hashish turned authorized in Greece – they’re the sixth nation in Europe to do that. Not solely this, however the authorities downgraded the plant from a Class A drug to a Class B, which highlighted their extra accepting stance on hashish. The federal government then legalized the expansion of medical hashish, for these with a license. The Health Minister Xanthos, mentioned:
“We’re discussing the licensing of a single, built-in unit that features manufacturing, processing and manufacturing of completed medicinal merchandise of hemp. That’s what it’s about,”
Nevertheless, as of but, there’s been no proof of an actual plan to implement medical hashish in Greece. While it’s authorized, it has but to be built-in into medical practices. Nevertheless, a website in Veroia, which is deliberate to open up, is predicted to generate 2,000 new jobs for locals.
The Metropolis’s Normal Perspective To Hashish
As , legal guidelines are one factor, however the individuals on the streets are a very totally different ball recreation. So, what’s hashish tradition like on the bottom in Athens? Properly, it’s necessary to recollect the historical past of hashish in Greece. Within the nineteenth century, Greece was the middle of cannabis manufacturing, and was used as a transit level for the supply of it to varied different international locations. As well as, hemp was a significant useful resource to construct ropes, garments and boat sails. Subsequently, hashish is – in a way – ingrained into Greek society. In keeping with Statista, 2.8% of the inhabitants eat hashish. That’s round 200,000 individuals.
Seashores & Police
Greek police stroll round Athens in massive packs. There’s fairly a number of of them. There’s little question that you could be be prosecuted when you’re discovered with hashish, or within the course of of buying it. As a rule of thumb, individuals say to keep away from smoking hashish in apparent public areas and wherever close to golf equipment. Nevertheless, hashish remains to be an easy drug to search out; whether or not it’s dry buds or cannabis. The quantity of gorgeous seashores that Athens presents signifies that these spots typically appeal to the weed-enthusiasts and sellers. It’s because it’s emptier and there are much less police.
Costs
The worth for a gram of hashish in Athens is round 10-12 euros. Nevertheless, it’s also possible to buy decrease high quality flower for 6-8 euros, which is often imported from Albania. Among the greatest hashish strains are Kalamata and Albanses. These are imagined to have the strongest THC content material, and greatest aromas. If you attempt Greek hashish, which has been grown within the scorching solar, alongside the olives and the tomatoes, it’s up there with the very best.
Conclusion: Hashish Tradition in Athens
It’s evident that Greece is a fantastic nation and Athens is an unimaginable metropolis. Nobody can doubt it has stunning meals, individuals and historical past. Nevertheless, the hashish state of affairs in Athens legally will not be supreme proper now. The hope is that sooner fairly than later, Greece decides to take the leap and develop into extra progressive with their drug legal guidelines. Nonetheless, it’s a part of the tradition. It’s a part of the streets. And, in a way, that’s all that issues.
Thanks for stopping by CBD TESTERS, your hub for all issues cannabis-related. Keep in mind to subscribe to The Medical Hashish Weekly E-newsletter for extra articles like this one and unique offers on flowers, vapes, edibles, and different merchandise.