Unsuspecting citizens of a small town in Turkey got involuntarily stoned last month after local police got the bright idea to burn 20 tons of seized illicit cannabis in the centre of Lice, Diyarbakir province.
The incident occurred on Apr. 18 and started to attract media attention this week. The massive quantity of chronic, estimated to be valued at about US$261 million, was collected by Turkish law enforcement throughout 2023 and last year.
Several locals in the town of approximately 25,000 felt dizzy, nauseous and even claim to have experienced hallucinations as a result of the marijuana smoke plume.
“For days, we couldn’t open our windows,” one very upset local said. “Our children got sick. We’re constantly going to the hospital.”
Local outrage about the unpleasant incident was amplified by the fact that cops decided to arrange the bundles of weed to spell the town’s name before setting it ablaze. They also used a couple hundred litres of diesel fuel as an accelerant. Many considered this to be quite foolish and unprofessional.
“While the operations conducted by Diyarbakir-based security forces are commendable and strike a significant blow to production and street dealers, burning cannabis in the city centre is unprofessional,” said Yahya Oger, another concerned local.
Residents were plagued by lingering effects of the THC-infused bonfire for at least five days after it occurred.
Prescribed medical cannabis for the treatment of severe health conditions has been legal in Turkey since 2016. Aside from that, flower and derivatives are highly illegal and getting caught with even small quantities can get you two to five years in prison.
The Diyarbakir province where the town of Lice is situated is known to be a hot bed for illegal cultivation operations. It is estimated that two thirds of the nation’s illicit marijuana is grown in Diyarbakir and the Lice district in particular.
🤣 Turkish town of 25,000 got unintentionally high after authorities burned 20 tons of confiscated cannabis nearby.
Thick smoke hung over Lice for days, leaving residents dizzy and nauseous. pic.twitter.com/bX0U5BbPrs
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) May 8, 2025
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