Morocco Celebrates First Legal Cannabis Harvest of 294 Tons

Morocco’s cannabis regulator said Morocco’s first legal cannabis harvest was 294 tonnes in 2023, after the country approved its cultivation and export for medicinal and industrial purposes.

The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis (ANRAC) is responsible for implementing the state’s strategy for the cultivation, production, manufacturing, processing and export of cannabis.

The harvest was carried out by 32 cooperatives that brought together 430 farmers, covering 277 hectares in the northern mountain areas of the Rif, such as Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen. This initiative was intended not only to increase farmers’ incomes, but also to protect them from marijuana smugglers dominating the market.

The legalization of cannabis cultivation in Morocco was a long-awaited step aimed at improving the living conditions of nearly one million people living in the northern regions of the country, where cannabis is the main source of income. Traditionally grown and smoked there for generations, hemp is part of the local economy and culture.

ANRAC emphasizes that this initiative is a response to growing global interest in legal cannabis, having granted 54 export licenses last year. The country, with a long history of growing cannabis, is known as one of the world’s main producers of hashish . The legalization of the cultivation and export of hemp for medical and industrial purposes in 2021 was a significant step forward that enabled the establishment of a regulated hemp industry.

Read more about Morocco’s first cannabis harvest and find the most important cannabis news from around the world with the Hemp.im mobile app.

Morocco’s position in global cannabis consumption

According to a recent report by financial website Insider Monkey, Morocco ranks 15th in the world for marijuana consumption. It is estimated that 11.1% of Moroccan adults use marijuana. The report highlights the long tradition of cannabis cultivation in Morocco and indicates that the country is one of the leading producers of hashish in the world.

Despite progress, Morocco still faces challenges related to drug smuggling and addiction. Last year, the security services intensified the fight against drug smuggling, which resulted in the registration of 99,513 drug-related cases and the arrest of 130,212 people, including 305 foreigners. Despite these efforts, drug smuggling remains a significant challenge for the country.

Alarming statistics on addiction published by the Moroccan Ministry of Health in 2018 indicate that the prevalence of drug use among the population aged 15 and over is 4.1%, equivalent to approximately 800,000 people. Drug use among the younger population is increasing, with risks of spreading diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, and social consequences including marginalization, discrimination and isolation.

Insider Monkey’s report ranked Morocco among the top 20 countries in marijuana consumption, with Israel topping the list with a prevalence of adult use of 27%. In Africa, apart from Morocco, Nigeria ranks 13th, while Madagascar and Zambia rank 10th and 9th respectively.

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(Featured image by NickyPe via Pixabay)

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First published in FaktyKonopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the articles from the originals. In case of discrepancy, the originals will prevail.

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