Morocco legalized cannabis cultivation
Why in news?
Morocco legalized cannabis cultivation for medical, industrial, and cosmetic purposes in 2022 through Law 13-21, marking it as the first Muslim-majority country to do so, while keeping recreational use illegal.
Recent developments
- This reform targets the impoverished Rif region, where cannabis has long sustained local economies amid poverty.
- Recent efforts aim to expand legal production to compete globally and transition farmers from the black market.​
- In 2024, King Mohammed VI pardoned over 4,800 imprisoned farmers to integrate them into the legal framework, boosting participation.
- By 2025, the National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Relating to Cannabis (ANRAC) licensed more than 3,371 growers in the Rif, producing nearly 4,200 tons on 5,800 hectares.
- Cooperatives like Biocannat process legal cannabis into CBD oils, lotions, and chocolates sold in pharmacies.​
Key Regulations
- The National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Relating to Cannabis (ANRAC), established in 2022, oversees licensing, monitoring, and regulation of all related activities.​
- Cultivation is restricted to three provinces in the Rif region: Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate, with potential expansion based on demand.
- Farmers must be Moroccan citizens, adults residing in designated areas, members of authorized cooperatives, and hold ANRAC-issued licenses valid for 10 years.
- Strict controls apply to seeds, THC levels (limited except for medical products), traceability, and supply chain steps like processing and export.​
Challenges Faced
- Legal cultivation covers only about 5,800 hectares versus 27,100+ hectares of illicit fields, supporting far fewer of the estimated 400,000 people in the informal trade.
- Farmers cite bureaucratic hurdles, high compliance costs, delayed payments from cooperatives, and better black market prices as barriers to full transition.
- ANRAC balances enforcement against support for growers amid protests over unmet economic promises.​
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