Morocco Considers Cannabis Legalization Bill to Boost Farmer Incomes

Bill 13.21 on the lawful uses of cannabis aims not only to improve the incomes of farmers but also to create huge opportunities for sustainable employment, said the minister, who was speaking before members of the Interior, Territorial Authorities, Housing and Urban Policy Committee in the House of Representatives.

According to the minister, a study has shown that the Kingdom has a favorable climate, quality soil, the know-how of traditional farmers and a strategic position close to the booming European market. In this regard, the country has a real and promising opportunity for the development of medical, pharmaceutical and industrial cannabis, concluded the report of this study commissioned as part of the legislative reform project on the uses of cannabis in Morocco.

According to the minister, the reform aims, among other things, to reduce the harmful effects of illegal crops on public health and the environment. Citing the example of some 1,000 hectares of forests destroyed per year by illegal farmers in Morocco, Abdelouafi Laftit said he is confident that the forthcoming legal framework will have a positive impact on soils and water resources, even the water table. All of this will allow Morocco to fully respect its international commitments. The other advantage highlighted by the minister relates to the social aspect. For him, the draft law, by protecting local farmers from international drug trafficking networks, ensures an undeniable social function, a guarantee of human capital.

The powers of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities were presented by the minister. As a public institution responsible for regulation, it will be the umbilical cord between professionals in the sector and the administration as a whole. Endowed with management autonomy, it will be responsible for granting and renewing operating permits. It will also ensure the monitoring, coordination, advice and technical support of farmers.

The minister’s communication did not overlook the control mechanism for the implementation of the law in the event of adoption. It is planned to monitor the legal cannabis throughout all stages of its production, processing, import, export and marketing chain and to keep registers to ensure stock monitoring and the second concerns the labeling and packaging of this material, he specified. As a supplement to compliance with this entire system, the judicial police officers, customs officers, water and forestry agents, as well as the sworn agents designated by the Agency.