Outside of Trashigang, look what grows up at the foreground

Outside of Trashigang, look what grows up at the foreground

Hemp crows up everywhere in Bhutan. Its not a "drug" problem in Bhutan. People crow up this plant for many other good reasons like medicine, fibre technics, textil and paper products and others.
Marijuana as I just mentioned also grows wild in several parts of the midwest where hemp production was once common, however the quality is not very high and this weed goes by the term ditch weed as it often grows in the ditches along the sides of the Bhutanese highway and side roads.
The main drug problem under Bhutanese people is the alcohol, which is used too much under several societies.
The secon drug problem is the betel nut, consumed everywhere by mostly older people in Bhutan.
Excessive long-term use of betel nut and betel quid has been associated with a number of health-related issues and problems such as: discolouration of teeth and gums, sometimes turning reddish-brown mouth ulcers and gum disease oral sub mucous fibrosis and oral cancers peptic ulcers increased risk of heart disease.
A resident German doctor in Thimphu says, that the betel brings biggest health problems in Bhutans society, they should better use Marijuana which does not cause heavy health diseases.

(The foto captured in April 2000 during my third tour in Bhutan the transnational highway from Paro in the west to Sandrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan the borderline to Asaam in India. Scanned with NIKON CoolScan V ED.)