Karachi has emerged as the second-highest consumer of cannabis in the world, according to ABCD2018 Cannabis Price Index, despite the fact that it is illegal in the country.
According to the index, Karachi comes just second after New York (77.44 metric tonnes) in terms of consuming cannabis — including hashish — at 41.95 metric tonnes, or 41,950 kgs.
New Delhi is right behind Karachi at 38.26 metric tonnes. Mumbai is also in the top ten. Interestingly, Amsterdam did not make it to the top 10 considering how popular the drug is in the city.
People have been smoking hash on the subcontinent for centuries. It predates the arrival of Islam in the region, with reference to cannabis appearing in the sacred Hindu Atharva Veda text describing its medicinal and ritual uses.
According to a 2013 UN survey, cannabis was the most widely consumed drug in Pakistan with around four million users, representing almost 3.6 percent of the population.
Most people who smoke up regularly remark that cannabis helps them destress and cope with the anxieties of life. Meanwhile, others comment that it helps increase their concentration and focus.
