Morocco Considers Bills to Legalize Cannabis Cultivation and Grant Amnesty to Growers

Councillor Larbi Mharchi said the government accepts the examination of the two bills relating to the legalization of cannabis cultivation and a general amnesty for prosecuted growers, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.

According to the councillor, the government, through the Minister of Justice, has decided to schedule a bill and a draft law next Wednesday. While the Productive Sectors Committee in the House of Councillors will consider the bill on the legalization of cannabis cultivation, the draft law on the general amnesty will be transferred to the Justice Committee, Larbi Mharchi specified.

In 2014, the PAM had already proposed a law on a general amnesty for growers as well as a draft law on its legalization. With these two texts, the party intended to defend the interests of citizens in the regions, particularly the north, who are involved in cannabis cultivation. It was also a matter of combating drug traffickers who are making huge profits from this crop, much to the chagrin of the growers.

The PAM had also proposed the creation of an agency for the cultivation of cannabis in order to implement a strategic plan to create an alternative economy in the regions historically known for this crop and to encourage scientific research and studies on this type of drug.