In my game I have always had Hanzia to be equivical to strong weed, it
is illegle is Sun County and its use and trade is against the precepts
of Pavis (else Pavis would be full of Hanzia dens and dealers). The
empire has no laws against its use by civilians and it is used by the
military but only when off duty or on leave. Since the Hanzia
production of the Pavis and Prax area would be relitivy low without a
local market there is no mass production in the areas where it is legal,
although there is some. Most if not all is shipped through the Lunar
trade cults back into the empire for their own use. Its legality makes
its value as a crop negligable and other crops could well be much more
use and more profitable, plus its not like you can eat it if there is a
poor harvest. I have always considdered farmers, especialy the newer
ones to be much too worried about starving to be planting huge fields,
and with the occupational govt rumbling about its legality its a gamble
few of them wish to take up.
I recall reading about the Krasht cult being heavily into Hanzia
production somplace, its definatle eluded to in the SC book. I also read
that its production in the empire is centered about the stinking forest,
and I doubt they have massive crops and so the Lunars have began to make
moves towards halting imports into the empire from outside sources
mostly to protect profits. If demand outstrips production though the
Hanzia trade in Pavis county and the smuggled trade from SC will
definatly be a huge business with gangs and organisations causing no end
of trouble. (From the point of view of a game master its somthing too
good not to drop players into from a hight).
That said, there is always somone behind all the seeming chaos of the
Hanzia trade who is making alot of coin and enemies from it.
(I'm new here, Im not a gloranthaphile by a long shot so dont kill me).
Earl.