Kalistani Major History

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Cannabis sales boom within Kalistan
Return to ODEN provides a major lift for Dahriel farmers
Dahriel, Ananto
March 18, 4762


Two young ladies participate in ODEN Smokeout Festival in Republican Square, Kaliburg

Marijuana has long been legal in Kalistan, and has formed if not the entire backbone of the Kalistani economy, at least a significant part of it.  However, under liberalization which began decades ago following the demise of ODEN-K, marijuana sales have steadily declined within the Republic.  The reason for this is, the introduction of a competitive model encouraged more independent growers to plant crops, which led to a decline in both prices and quality, which led to independent farmers going bankrupt, and their lands being converted back to crops that could earn money.  A corresponding drop in demand due to low quality occured alongside with the glut, and farmers who produced excellent quality marijuana were priced completely out of the market, and their customer base was limited to connoisseurs and hipsters.

That all ended with the repassage of ODEN, and the re-institution of price supports and quality controls.  The Dahriel Growers' Union, which is the primary grower of marijuana in Kalistan for domestic consumption welcomed the return of ODEN.  Recently elected co-op President Agnes Erikson, of Dahriel, said this at the recent Dahrield Grower's convention.  "For the first time in more than two generations, our Farmers can make money and see their product find its way into the hands of the population of Kalistan.  We have maintained the highest standards of production here in the Dah valley, and yes, it has cost us, but now that we have ODEN-K once more, our farmers can finally shrug off the temptation to make more money by converting their production to other sorts of cash crops."

And Dahriel's product has once more become the National Product.  The DGU reports that the demand in Kalistan finally has surpassed the production, and it is time for local farmers who switched to growing sugar to return to ganja farming.  "Prices are increasing," said Erikson, "but thanks to subsidies from ODEN and a guaranteed market, more people are smoking now than have in a long long time.  Our members are making a livlihood by planting more, finally, and that is not only good for our members, but also for the local economy, where everyone was hurt deeply by the recession in the area due to liberalization."

And Erikson was correct.  In 4761, domestic marijuana sales in the Dah Valley finally topped 10,000 tons following the return of ODEN in 5760, and are expected to exceed 14,000 tons this year.  "Production in the Valley, really has to ramp up," said Erikson, "Especially if we intend to begin meeting world demand for the Leaf."

In addition to traditional marijuana growth, other farmers' unions have begun exporting industrial hemp to Kazulia under agreement with the Kazulian Government.  More than 20,000 tons of industrial hemp was exported last year.  "The Vrassan Hemp Growers Union planted more than 10,000 acres of hemp last year and exported it via ODEN to Kazulia and other places.  That produced approximately 2.2 million pounds of hemp oil for Kazulian consumption.  Domestically, we are just beginning our work with biodiesel, but as we ramp up production in Kalistan, ODEN hemp will provide a stable livlihood for the growers in Vrassa," said Erikson.

Cannabis stocks on the Kalsie were on the rise, along with most other stocks, and futures for the DGU's farms continued their 14 month hike, trading at K72 per share.