Morocco to Examine Cannabis Legalization Bill, Experts Call for Improvements

The text provides for the creation of a national agency for the regulation of cannabis-related activities. This agency will be endowed with legal personality and financial independence. It will therefore be up to the regulator to work on the implementation of the government’s strategy for the cultivation, processing, marketing and import/export activities of cannabis. Although the announced creation of this agency is a step forward, the draft law has some shortcomings.

One of its shortcomings concerns the purchase of farmers’ harvests. The regulator should hold the monopoly on the purchase of farmers’ harvests, in order to avoid any speculation on selling prices. "The legal cannabis market, as we see it in the world, allows farmers to reach 12% of the final turnover," a source close to the file told the newspaper L’Opinion. "Today, on the ground, the farmer receives about 1% of the turnover. For its sale abroad, this share can go up to 4%. The turnover generated by Moroccan illegal cannabis in Europe is 120 billion DH. The agricultural turnover, that is to say what the farmer receives, does not exceed 5 billion DH," he explains.

According to the expert, this draft law, which aims to guarantee reasonable income for farmers, may not contribute to a significant improvement in farmers’ income due to the adoption of this single buyer model. "It would be wise to add an amendment that allows the sale between investor and farmer. The agency will still be able to verify the prices, set a minimum and control compliance with these measures, while allowing a diversification of demand. I think this part of the law could be improved," he suggests.