Morocco Launches Legal Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program

In Morocco, farmers organized into cooperatives in the northern provinces of Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate are starting to cultivate medical cannabis, after receiving an initial batch of cannabis seeds, imported from Switzerland. The cannabis seeds distributed for the 2023 season should cover 105 hectares of land. In total, more than 170 farmers are involved in the process.

The Parliament adopted in June 2021 the draft law No. 13-21 on the lawful uses of cannabis, "for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes" which aims to "convert the illicit crops that are destructive to the environment into sustainable and value-creating legal activities and employment". A year later, a "Moroccan Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis (ANRAC)", responsible for issuing authorizations for all cannabis-related activities (cultivation, processing, marketing, export, etc.) has been established.

This state agency is already issuing cannabis cultivation permits. The number of farmers benefiting from these permits will increase to 500 in the next agricultural season, the government has stated. Farmers must be official members of state agricultural cooperatives.