Morocco Expands Legal Cannabis Cultivation to New Regions for Medical and Industrial Use

Presented by the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, the draft sets the contours of this future legal market and indicates the regions that will be authorized to cultivate, produce and exploit cannabis. Specifically, the text cites Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate, specifying that other provinces could also be authorized depending on the interest shown by national and international investors in the cannabis production chain.

To read: Morocco Legalizes Cannabis, Aims to Boost Economy and Curb Smuggling

A National Regulatory Agency will be created and will have the mission of supporting the actors wishing to invest in the sector by facilitating the administrative formalities for obtaining licenses. It will also monitor the activities of license holders to ensure that cannabis is exploited for truly legal purposes. To this end, the latter will have to send it monthly reports on the state of the seeds, plants and finished cannabis products.

To read: Morocco Unveils Initial Studies on Cannabis Legalization for Medical and Industrial Use

The text also provides for the establishment of an advisory committee chaired by the Director General of the Agency or his representative and composed of representatives of the Ministries of the Interior, Agriculture, Health, Commerce and Industry. It will be responsible for examining authorization requests and giving its opinion on them.

In addition, the ministries concerned are also authorized to decide on the cultivation, production, processing, manufacturing, transport and export of cannabis, as well as on the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC - the main molecule responsible for psychoactive effects) content of imported cannabis varieties.