‘I smoked hash, Suad!’—one of the most famous lines repeated by Egyptians and even Arabs who enjoy smoking under Egypt’s sleepless sky. The phrase, delivered memorably in a scene from Karakon in the Street, starring Adel Imam, has left a lasting impression on audiences, alongside other iconic films such as Al-Keif and other productions that shaped popular culture.
Hashish began entering Egyptian society in an organised manner after the 1919 revolution, when the British promoted its use to distract Egyptians from their national duties and resistance to colonial rule. However, it seems that by the late 1980s, hashish had fully embedded itself in the social fabric across all age and economic groups. The media, ironically, played a significant role in its spread—while outwardly condemning it, it unknowingly became one of its biggest promoters.
As an illegal yet socially desirable commodity, hashish follows the basic principles of supply and demand. Naturally, combating it through legal and security measures remains crucial. However, failing to recognise it as a market-driven product in an economic context exposes a fundamental flaw in how this crisis is managed. Socially, it is no longer perceived as a major problem. In fact, the true absurdity lies in hearing someone say, ‘I would never drink alcohol—just a hash joint, that’s all.’
A comparison with the abolition of the slave trade offers an insightful perspective on tackling the drug trade. In the early 19th century, laws criminalising the slave trade emerged across much of the so-called ‘civilised world’, and Egypt, in one way or another, was part of this movement.
Military campaigns were launched, both on land and at sea, to suppress the trade—such as those sent from Egypt under Khedive Ismail deep into Africa, and British naval missions along West Africa’s Atlantic coast to block Spanish and Portuguese slave fleets.
These laws and military efforts certainly played a role in diminishing the trade. However, recent research suggests that what truly ended slavery was a purely economic factor: the decline in demand. As the cost of maintaining slaves increased and the world witnessed industrial progress, feeding and housing a slave became financially unviable—especially following the collapse of the feudal system in Europe.
This economic dynamic offers valuable lessons for addressing drug trafficking, particularly hashish in Egypt. The key is to focus on weakening demand, rather than merely cracking down on supply. Strategically reducing consumption requires a long-term, well-planned approach. The same media that fuelled demand must now take responsibility for reversing it through sustained, intelligent messaging.
Of course, none of this negates the deeper societal issues that drive many Egyptians to seek escape—even if just for an hour before dawn—believing that hashish gives them the energy to endure another depressing day. The collapse of Egypt’s demographic system—across economic, security, social, and political levels—has left young people frustrated, jobless, and politically silenced. The dream of marriage has faded, replaced by the fleeting joy of a meaningless laugh as they pass a joint to a friend, saying, ‘Good morning.’ As the drug seeps into their blood and fogs their minds, they erupt in laughter, echoing Adel Imam’s famous line: ‘I smoked hash, Suad!’—and for hours, they laugh at nothing.
This article is originally published by AlBorsa in Arabic and later AI-translated by South Push.