MOROCCO proudly announced its inaugural legal cannabis harvest in 2023, a landmark development following the country’s approval of cannabis cultivation and export for medicinal and industrial purposes. According to the cannabis regulator ANRAC, the harvest yielded an impressive 294 metric tons, underscoring Morocco’s strategic pivot towards a regulated cannabis industry.
The bountiful harvest was the result of collaborative efforts by 32 cooperatives, comprising 430 farmers, who cultivated cannabis across 277 hectares in the picturesque northern Rif mountain regions of Al Houceima, Taounat, and Chefchaouen. ANRAC disclosed these details in an email to Reuters, shedding light on the scale and organisation of Morocco’s burgeoning legal cannabis sector.
The United Nations drugs agency reports that approximately 47,000 hectares of the Rif region are dedicated to cannabis cultivation, representing a significant reduction from 2003 levels following government crackdowns. Despite the decrease in cultivation area, Morocco remains a key player in the global cannabis market, leveraging its rich agricultural heritage and favourable climate for cannabis cultivation.
In anticipation of continued growth in the legal cannabis industry, ANRAC revealed that it is currently reviewing applications from 1,500 farmers organised into 130 cooperatives. These farmers are eager to participate in the regulated cultivation of the local drought-resistant cannabis landrace, known as Beldia, which commenced this month.
While cannabis use for recreational purposes remains officially illegal in Morocco, it is widely tolerated in practice, particularly in the northern regions where it serves as a vital economic lifeline for nearly a million residents. Cannabis has been cultivated and consumed in these areas for generations, often mixed with tobacco and smoked in traditional long-stemmed pipes with clay bowls.
The legalisation of cannabis cultivation aims to uplift farmers’ livelihoods and shield them from the influence of illicit drug traffickers who have long dominated the cannabis trade. ANRAC disclosed that two legal cannabis transformation units are currently operational, with two more awaiting equipment. Additionally, the regulator is in the process of authorising 15 cannabis products for medicinal use, signalling Morocco’s commitment to leveraging the therapeutic potential of cannabis.
Furthermore, Morocco is keen to capitalise on the burgeoning global market for legal cannabis, having granted 54 export permits last year alone. This strategic move positions Morocco as a key player in the evolving landscape of cannabis regulation and underscores the country’s determination to harness the economic and medicinal benefits of this versatile plant.