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Morocco is Africa’s largest exporter of cannabis, mostly hemp for industrial purposes. However, cannabis reform has faltered with record crops and lower prices, prompting traditional growers to call for a legal domestic adult-use market to be legalized.

Aurelien Bernard, Founder Newsweed

24 January 2025 at 12:30:00

This report from Newsweed published 9 January 2024

As the first year of legal hemp production ends with a substantial harvest of 4,000 tonnes (including all the plants and not the final product), legal Moroccan growers are now faced with the reality of the market and the inadequacy of infrastructure.


The production of legal cannabis, which is in excess of demand, has led to a fall in prices, with some growers selling their harvest for as little as 80 dirhams (8 euros) per kilo. At this price, many cannot cover their costs. This economic pressure is compounded by the limited number of processing plants capable of converting raw cannabis into medical or industrial products, which leaves much of the harvest unsold.


Insufficient demand and structural challenges

In 2024, Morocco issued 3,371 cannabis cultivation permits under Law 13.21 , which authorizes the production of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. Despite these efforts, farmers face obstacles in selling their production due to a lack of investors and buyers.


Charif Adraddak, president of the Moroccan Observatory for Cannabis Regulation, explained to Hesspress that farmers must sign contracts with purchasing companies to participate in the regulated system. However, the small number of these companies creates bottlenecks, discouraging many growers from entering the legal market.


Moreover, Farid Ahithour, president of the Tizi Ifri cooperative, estimates that "around half of cannabis growers have not yet moved to the regulated market", largely due to systemic and regulatory obstacles .


Ahithour warns that the situation will get worse if more farmers join the regulated system without increased investment and infrastructure. Even with 700 investors, he says, current production levels would remain unmanageable. This stagnation has led many growers and activists to call for broader legalization that would include recreational and traditional use of cannabis.


Calls for legalization of recreational and traditional use

Growers and activists say legalizing recreational and traditional cannabis use could ease market pressures while bringing economic benefits.


Adraddak highlights the rich history of informal cannabis use in Morocco, particularly in the northern regions. Drawing parallels with regulated cannabis spaces in countries like the Netherlands and Spain, he asks: “Why wouldn’t we have regulated spaces like cannabis cafes or clubs?”


Such measures could not only boost domestic sales but also attract tourists, especially as Morocco prepares to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.


Ahithour stressed the need for the government to take into account the preferences of international visitors.


“Why not provide safe, regulated places where [cannabis consumption] can take place?” he suggests, noting the potential for economic growth driven by tourism .


Without immediate action, the promise of a thriving cannabis industry may remain elusive, leading many to question whether current policies can truly support the long-term viability of the sector.

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Morocco: Growers Call for Recreational Cannabis to be Legalized as Hemp Stockpile Mounts and Prices Drop

Morocco: Growers Call for Recreational Cannabis to be Legalized as Hemp Stockpile Mounts and Prices Drop

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