Morocco Cannabis Seizures Rise Against Global Decline Trend

The global cannabis resin market is contracting sharply. After continuous growth until 2020, seizures have declined significantly in all regions of the world, with a drop of more than 50% globally.

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This decline is interpreted as a sign of a shrinking resin market. According to UNODC, cannabis herb, often with higher THC content, is gradually replacing resin in several regions.

But Morocco is escaping this general trend. In 2024, seizures in North Africa, particularly in Morocco, exceeded those recorded in Western and Central Europe. This shift is mainly explained by the increase in seizures in Morocco, while they are declining in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Morocco Against the Tide

Resin remains concentrated in a few major areas: Western and Central Europe, North Africa, and the Near and Middle East with South-West Asia. But the balance is shifting.

In Europe and North America, cannabis herb has been gaining ground for several years, driven notably by the development of indoor cultivation with high THC content. This evolution is changing markets, but also trafficking routes.

However, resin still holds an important place in certain regions. This is the case in the Iberian Peninsula, due to its geographical proximity to production areas, but also in Scandinavian countries.

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For Morocco, 2024 data therefore shows a paradoxical situation. While the global resin market is declining, Moroccan seizures are increasing and placing the kingdom at the heart of trafficking in full restructuring.