Apart from the attacks on demonstrators, there's another matter causing deep concern among the estimated 10 million Egyptians who regularly partake of hashish. It's in very short supply and prices have rocketed.

The government has even gone so far as to claim "the complete destruction of the hashish trade in Egypt".

Needless to say, conspiracy theories abound. Bikya Masr and the Saudi-owned Asharq Alawsat have more details on the crisis.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 7 April 2010.