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Tunisian rapper busted for marijuana revives debate on legalization

The arrest and pre-trial detention of a famous rapper in Tunisia for cannabis possession revived the debate over the legalization of cannabis use and calls to abolish one of the harshest laws penalizing users.
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Tunisian rapper A.L.A (Ala Ferchichi), known as “the spearhead of the Tunisian trap music scene,” must appear in court on Oct. 12. His arrest May 6 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply cannabis sparked a massive online protest.

However, after two days of pre-trial detention, the rapper was sent home May 8 to await trial. A.L.A’s lawyer, Ghazi Mrabet, said the artist might benefit from the 2017 drug law reform. “When it concerns a first offender, judges now can impose a fine or grant pardon after predetention instead of imprisonment,” Mrabet told Al-Monitor.

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