Morocco’s PJD Denies Rumors of El Othmani Resignation Over Cannabis Bill

Saâd-Eddine El Othmani in no way threatened to resign in the event that Islamist MPs voted against the bill on the lawful use of cannabis, said PJD deputies. They were responding to the publication of a media that had mentioned the issue, referring to a "serious and intense" debate during a meeting held on May 4 at the initiative of the Head of Government on bill 13-21.

Initially, the deputies of this formation had shown their fierce opposition to bill 13-21, relating to the legalization of the medical use of cannabis. The most conservative, supported by Abdelilah Benkirane, the former secretary general of the party, had mobilized to thwart the legislative initiative.

The bill is currently under consideration before the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives. After this Tuesday, which is the last deadline set to receive amendments from deputies, the law will first be voted on in a parliamentary committee and then in a plenary session.