Morocco Launches $4.5 Million Cannabis Processing Zone in Al Hoceima Province

The implementation of this project has been entrusted to the Regional Project Implementation Agency (AREP), under the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, under the supervision of the Al Hoceima Provincial Council. It aims "to develop an economic activity zone on an area of ten hectares, which will be dedicated to promising activities related to the transformation and enhancement of cannabis, to derive products intended for medical, cosmetic and industrial uses," says Le Matin.

A multi-party agreement has already been signed between the Council of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, which will mobilize 20 million dirhams, the Al Hoceima Provincial Council, 10 million dirhams, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) which plan to each release 5 million dirhams. A total of 45 million dirhams.

According to the daily, "ANRAC has issued, until the end of November 2023, a total of 430 authorizations to farmers for their cannabis cultivation and production activities, on an area of 277 hectares, in favor of 32 production cooperatives grouping 416 farmers." For its part, AREP has issued 179 authorizations for processing activities, including 47 for industrial purposes, 7 for medical purposes, 51 for marketing purposes, 54 for export purposes, 17 for the import of seeds, and 3 for transportation purposes.