The inaugural … Cannabis Festival takes places in central Athens on Saturday in the shadow of the Greek Parliament, with  supporters calling for the decriminalization of the so-called “soft drug” in the east Med country where its (illegal) cultivation is not … unknown.

Taking a page out of the Liberal handbook (or ‘neo-liberal’, as detractors call it in Greece), supporters claim that legalizing – a step beyond decriminalization – cannabis production and distribution in Greece would create 2.5 billion euros in turnover, as well as 40,000 new jobs.

The festival’s organisers have called on PM Alexis Tsipras not only to attend the event but to change the state’s policy towards narcotics use.

Dozens of organizations and groups will take part in the festival, including ruling SYRIZA party’s youth and rights sector.