Morocco Explores Cannabis Cosmetics Market Amid Legal Uncertainties

The favorable vote of the kingdom for the suspension of cannabis from the list of narcotic drugs at risk of the UN, at the beginning of December and the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel, a state considered as the global pioneer of therapeutic cannabis, constitute a memorial turning point for Morocco in the field of cannabis and will certainly weigh on this sector not at all tolerated by the authorities. But before this vote by Morocco, new products including oils, shampoos and soaps based on cannabis have appeared on the Moroccan market, and are meeting with great success.

The best-selling of all these products is definitely the hemp oil often called "cannabis oil" known for its moisturizing, emollient, anti-aging and nourishing properties for the skin and hair, sold at around 100 DH for 50 ml here, and 150 DH for 15 ml. But this oil is imported from abroad, said a man marketing hemp oil, contacted by telephone. "We source from a company that imports this oil. But no, we don’t source locally, because we’re not sure it’s legal," he stressed.

Unlike him, Hassan, a merchant in Al Hoceima, "sources directly from cannabis growers, who grind the hemp seeds themselves." But "they only produce occasionally or on demand," he explained. However, there are blockages and a lack of transparency that are explained by the legal ambiguity surrounding these products. Thus, as long as "the law is not clear, we cannot take any risks," added Hassan, stressing that the Moroccan authorities need to "anticipate and review the legislation, because it is not enough to go and vote at the UN, but we must be able to act on the ground".

Moreover, the cannabis issue comes up in every election campaign. However, nothing has been decided since the presentation of the 2015 bill aimed at "legalizing cannabis". It remains to be seen whether the debate will return during the next elections.