Global Ganja Report

Long the main gateway to Europe for Moroccan hashish, Spain has over the past year emerged as one of the continent's main cannabis cultivation hubs, rivaling the Netherlands. Principal cultivation zones are Andalusia, Murcia, Catalonia, Aragon and especially Valencia—which the Guardia Civil describes as "a jungle of cannabis."

Raids last year uncovered 47 plants in Alcoy; 330 in a flat in Alicante; 600 in a villa in Elche; 104 in Torrent; 172 in Granja de Rocamora; and 676 in Valencia, with small plantations also uncovered in Montserrat, Montroi, Corbera and Alfafar. The most popular breed is said to be the intimidatingly named "AK-47," with THC levels as high as 15%. While sale of seeds is legal in Spain, a Guardia Civil spokesman warned that "cultivation is a crime against public health, whether it is one plant or 500." (Round Town News, UK, Jan. 5)