XXIV. Skopje, the new Amsterdam
XXIV. Skopje, the new Amsterdam
North Macedonia may become the first Balkan country (and one of the few in Europe) to allow the recreational use of marijuana. The Dutch coffeeshops would be the examples to be followed
Hi,
welcome back to BarBalkans, the Italian newsletter whose aim is to give a voice to the Western Balkans’ stories, on the 30th anniversary eve of the Yugoslav Wars.
Well, a very busy month is behind us, with a trip/trilogy on the 25th birthday of “Miss Sarajevo” (here) and another one on the stories of Sarajevan women who are renewing the image of Bosnia and Herzegovina (et voilà).
Today we’ll breathe another air. We won’t move from our bed, couch or armchair, but it will be like sitting in one of the coffeeshops in Amsterdam… in the Balkans.
Are you ready? We’re leaving for North Macedonia.
Coffeeshops to be
Just two weeks ago, the prime minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, told Deutsche Welle something that may become a milestone for the legalization of cannabis for recreational purpose not only in the Balkans, but throughout Europe:
«It may help the tourism sector. The idea is to allow consumption of marijuana in cafés, both in existing and new ones, in tourist places and in Skopje, if they respect certain standards on ventilation and proof of origin of the marijuana».
Behind this public statement, we can find several points of analysis.
1. The aim is to stimulate the economy. Zaev recalled that this is part of the government’s planned package of measures to give new impulse to the economy, which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 health crisis.
2. Therapeutic use of cannabis is allowed in North Macedonia since 2016. Four years later, we’re talking about recreational use through a strict regulation, following the Dutch example.
3. Zaev opened a public debate over this issue. If the majority in the country will agree, the law will be adopted by the current government. On the contrary, if the country will say no to the idea, Zaev will retreat immediately the proposal.
Since 2016, when the sale of marijuana for medicinal use was allowed in pharmacies (the right-wing party VMRO DPMNE was in power), legal marijuana producers have started working also in North Macedonia.
However, the country has not fully decriminalized the use of cannabis and some NGOs have criticized the law for being intentionally preventing small entrepreneurs from entering the business.
The ministry of Justice, Bojan Maricic, expressed great satisfaction for the ongoing public debate on legalization:
«It may bring several benefits, such as regulating the marijuana trade, curbing criminality and increasing the tax income, mostly in the tourism sector».
Despite the fact that North Macedonia has far more serious problems, after Bulgaria vetoed the start of EU accession negotiations, the legalization of cannabis for recreational use still seems to be one of the top priorities of the government.
Shedding some light on cannabis
Cannabis, marijuana, recreational use, therapeutic use.
We need to put some order into the issue and avoid confusion with very different words and concepts.
Cannabis is a flowering plant in the family Cannabaceae. The most common species is the Cannabis Sativa, which is used as a source of industrial fiber, seed oil and for construction.
CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychotropic active substance, meaning that it doesn’t alter the mental and physical abilities of consumers.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis flowers and the reason why certain States consider the plant illegal.
Marijuana is a psychoactive substance obtained from the dried inflorescences of female cannabis plants.
Cannabis light (or legal marijuana) contains a low level of THC: to possess and sell it legally, it must not exceed 0.2%, but the threshold tolerated is 0.6%.
Thanks to the high level of CBD, which has positive and relaxing effects, and the low presence of THC, cannabis light can be used also for recreational purposes. Anyone over 18 can buy it in physical or online stores.
Due to its properties, cannabis (or marijuana) for therapeutic use has a level of THC ranging from 0.2 and 22% and it can be bought in pharmacies only with a medical prescription. By releasing dopamine (a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep/wake cycle and other behavioral aspects), it is used to fight chronic diseases and treat pain.
Do you want a treat? On Wednesday, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs has voted to remove cannabis from the category of the world’s most dangerous drugs, following the recommendation by the World Health Organization.
This is a brief glossary to find your way in the green jungle of cannabis and marijuana.
If you understand Italian and you want to know everything about cannabis light, you should listen to the podcast recorded by the ex-students of the “Walter Tobagi” School of Journalism: Mai dire Maria (edited by Riccardo Congiu).
It’s a long way to legalization
If you want to know where you are going, you need to know where you come from.
This is the cannabis framework in the Western Balkans:
*NORTH MACEDONIA
Legal only for therapeutic use (from 2016).
For other purposes, possession for personal use of small quantities is fined.
Production and possession for supply is punishable by 3 to 10 years of imprisonment.
*KOSOVO
Illegal for every purpose.
Possession for personal use of small quantities (less than 3 grams) is punishable by 1 to 3 years of imprisonment (up to 1 year, for the first time).
Cultivation by 2 to 8 years. Import/export by 3 to 10 years.
*BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Illegal for every purpose.
Possession for personal use of small quantities is punishable up to 1 year of imprisonment in the Federation, by a fine in the Republika Srpska.
Production and possession for supply by 1 to 10 years.
*SERBIA
Illegal for every purpose.
Possession for personal use is punishable up to 3 years of imprisonment.
Production by 5 months to 5 years. Import/export and supply by 3 to 12 years.
*MONTENEGRO
Illegal for every purpose.
Possession for personal use of small quantities is fined (since 2011).
Production and possession for supply by 2 to 10 years of imprisonment.
*ALBANIA
Illegal for every purpose.
Possession for personal use of small quantities is almost unpunished.
Import/export, production and possession for supply are punishable by 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.
*SLOVENIA
Illegal for every purpose, but decriminalized (since 2013).
For therapeutic use, cannabinoid drugs - except marijuana - are allowed.
For other purposes, possession for personal use of small quantities is fined 42 to 210€.
Production and possession for supply by 2 to 10 years of imprisonment.
*CROATIA
Legal only for therapeutic use (from 2015). For other purposes, it is decriminalized: in January 2020 a bill to legalize the recreational use was presented.
For now, possession for personal use is fined.
Production and possession for supply by 3 to 10 years of imprisonment.
For most of the Balkan countries, recognizing cannabis’ medical benefits and legalizing the therapeutic use is not even under discussion.
Only Croatia and North Macedonia are closer to the European horizon. Even if we have to define what the European horizon is.
The self-declared independent micro-nation of Freetown Christiania (within Copenhagen), stands out for its cultivation, trade and legal use of cannabis.
Spain, Czech Republic and the Netherlands basically allow the recreational use of cannabis in private spaces (even in coffeeshops in the Netherlands) and the cultivation of up to 5 plants for personal use.
In Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Moldova and Ukraine the recreational use is illegal, but decriminalized and fined.
In all other European countries, the use of cannabis for recreational purposes is not allowed, while the therapeutic use can be permitted. The level of persecution (or tolerance) depends on the country law.
We have to wait for the decisions in the Western Balkans, in order to add new colors to this map of Europe.
And we’ll gather together in a coffeeshop in the center of Skopje, to try the legal cannabis of North Macedonia.
Pit stop. Sittin’ at the BarBalkans
We’ve arrived at the end of this piece of road. We deserve a pause.
You already know what we’ll find at our bar.
Maybe, you’ll be surprised to know that cannabis light is the basis for many dishes and cocktails in those countries where its consumption is permitted.
So, we have to choose one drink.
Or rather, to create our own drink (thanks to the wise advice of my colleague Edoardo Re).
We will call it Macedonian Wake n’ Bake.
We need 60 ml of bourbon, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 5 drops of angostura, 3 teaspoons of cannabis syrup (THC 0.2% - CBD 12%), soda and orange peel.
Grab a low tumbler. Add the sugar, angostura and the cannabis syrup. Pour in the soda and mix well. Add the ice. Pour in the bourbon and give it a good stir. Serve it with the orange peel.
And now we can relax… at the BarBalcani coffeeshop!
Let’s continue the BarBalkans journey. We’ll meet again in a week, for the 25th stop.
A big hug and have a good journey!
I thank you for getting this far with me. I hope you enjoy the trip and you’d help me to make this experience grow.
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