Morocco Harvests Its First Legally Grown Cannabis Crop
The Moroccan authorities have reported the first harvest of legally cultivated cannabis, collected in 2023, and shared insights into the industry’s future prospects.
Most Farmers Still Grow Cannabis Illegally
According to the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC), in 2023, 430 farmers from 32 cooperatives cultivated cannabis legally. These farmers grew the crop on 277 hectares in the northern Rif mountain range and produced 294 tons of cannabis from the harvest.
UN data shows that since Morocco began cracking down on illegal cannabis cultivation in 2003, the area of illicit cannabis fields has decreased threefold, reaching about 47,000 hectares in 2023. This means the area of illegal cannabis farmland is nearly 170 times larger than the land used by licensed farmers.
The Moroccan Beldia Cannabis Strain
This year, ANRAC will review license applications from 1,500 farmers who have formed 130 cooperatives. If approved, cannabis production volumes are expected to increase significantly. Additionally, the agency plans to approve 15 cannabinoid-based medicines, and for the first time in March, industry representatives planted the local Beldia cannabis strain, which is drought-resistant. In 2023, the government issued 54 licenses for cannabis export, so Moroccan cannabis products will soon be supplied abroad.
Decrease in Seized Cannabis in Morocco
Alongside the reduction in illegal cannabis fields, the amount of confiscated cannabis products has also dropped. According to law enforcement reports, 81.2 tons of cannabis were seized in 2023, which is 17% less than in 2022. It appears that the term “cannabis” here refers to both marijuana and hashish. Authorities also discovered nearly 2 tons of cocaine and 6.9 kilograms of heroin.
Cannabis Cultivation in Morocco
The Moroccan government legalized medical and industrial cannabis in 2021 to provide growers with a legal source of income and reduce their cooperation with smugglers. Officials claim that legal cannabis cultivation is more profitable, as a hectare of medical cannabis can be sold on the regulated market for 110,000 Moroccan dirhams (about 997,700 rubles) per year, while drug traffickers would pay only 64,578 dirhams (about 585,722 rubles) for the same amount.