Northern Morocco’s Cannabis Debate Overshadows Water Crisis, Political Parties Clash

Concerns related to cannabis cultivation and decriminalization are recurrent in the north of the kingdom and constitute real arguments used by political parties, as each election approaches, to win the popular vote.

Indeed, in this region, due to the lack of alternative crops, most growers are involved in cannabis cultivation. This allows politicians to surf on this issue that greatly concerns the populations. According to Le360, it is especially blamed on the mayors of the communes led by the PAM that they do not devote themselves first and foremost to the development of the region and alternative crops, which are just as major priorities for the populations. Moreover, the media points out, cannabis cultivation in the north has been developed by lobbies that monopolize the leasing of land and the import of the "Kartika" plant.

For its part, the daily Al Akhbar points out that these same lobbies are being pointed out as being responsible for the water crisis raging in the region. Indeed, they import sophisticated water pumps that deplete water resources and cause natural disasters. This leads to overconsumption of water, making life even more difficult in a region that lacks water and does not have a dam. This is what explains the tensions and protest marches observed in recent days in the provinces of Chefchaouen and Ouazzane.

However, curiously, instead of tackling this topical issue that is the source of intense tensions in the north, the leaders of the PAM and Istiqlal have just surfed on the issue of thirst, without dwelling on the Kartika plant whose cultivation absorbs huge amounts of water, the same source points out.