Morocco, the European and African gateway country, issues ten cannabis licenses

Under the supervision of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities, established growers are now allowed to grow cannabis for export and industry in three northern provinces of Morocco.

Following the passage of a new cannabis law by parliament leaders last year, the Moroccan government issued ten licenses to farmers in the northern regions of Taounate, al-Hoceima and Chefchaouen, where they can grow and trade cannabis for industrial, medicinal, and pharmaceutical uses. Adult cannabis, however, remains illegal.

The Cannabis Law of 2021

In May 2021, the House of Representatives passed the Cannabis Act by an overwhelming 119 votes in favour, 48 against and no abstentions.

By law, cannabis can only be used legally for industrial and medical purposes, not for recreational use. Their goals include raising farmers’ wages and defending them against drug smugglers who dominate the cannabis industry and smuggle it illegally into Europe. In some countries, medicinal cannabis treats diseases such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

According to the needs indicated by the authorized industrial companies, permits are gradually issued to farmers. The National Agency for the Legalization of Cannabis-related Activities is still exploring the potential of the cannabis market to further develop the industry and encourage growers to move from illegal to legal, stable and lucrative cultivation.

According to the news source, the Cannabis Regulations of 2021 were created to protect local farmers from drug criminals who control the cannabis trade and illegally transport it to Europe. The law also aims to help the impoverished mountain regions of Morocco, where marijuana was grown for decades but was banned in 1954.

Farmers in the northern region of Morocco account for about 4% of the final harvest value on the black market. According to a study by Cannavigia, a Swiss compliance software company that helps track and trace cannabis along the supply chain in Europe, government agencies claim that a controlled market will allow these growers to earn 12% under the new law . The law also proposes that farmers in the northern regions set up cooperatives. This is to help take responsibility for negotiating contracts with producers to protect their rights, commit to sustainable agriculture and buy quality seeds.

In the challenging growing climate of the country’s northern region, where the cultivation of other crops is not possible, the Moroccan government estimates that at least 60,000 households on 55,000 hectares (approx. 212 square miles) depend on cannabis cultivation. According to the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the new law will allow other provinces to be included in the controlled market. However, this depends on the interest of domestic and foreign investors in companies related to the cannabis manufacturing chain.

International Investments

The board of the state organization, which is close to the Interior Ministry, met for the first time in June. After the meeting, the agency was entrusted with the implementation, the ministry said. They are to implement the kingdom’s plan for the cultivation, production, manufacture, export and import, transformation and marketing of marijuana products for industrial, medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.

The agency also oversees and oversees all phases of this legalized cannabis business, from the production of seedlings to product marketing and research support. In addition, it aims to help attract international capital into the production of cannabis products, make smuggling networks a thing of the past and legalize sustainable cannabis cultivation.

Morocco is ideally positioned to become a leading legal exporter as it is right next to Europe. According to data quoted in Moroccan media, cannabis plantations occupy about 55,000 hectares in the north-eastern region of the country.

In a study published last year, the Interior Ministry estimated that net income from cannabis grown for medicinal purposes would be around US$10,000 (110,000 Moroccan dirhams) per year. According to a study published by the media portal of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, Moroccan cannabis used for industrial and medicinal purposes can represent 10% to 15% of the market in Europe. These would primarily be foreign markets covering the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain and Germany. Based on these two percentages, the country would earn about $420-$630 million annually.

The agricultural and food industry has a significant influence on the social and economic development of the Moroccan population. According to the latest data from the World Bank, the sector provides 39% of employment, particularly in rural areas, and generates 21% of GDP.

Will Moroccan traditional farmers reap the rewards?

Farmers in Morocco’s Rif Mountains, where hashish has been produced on a large scale since the 18th century, fear the government’s campaign against illegal production and the snail’s pace of permitting could result in missed opportunities. Historically, the area has supplied around 70% of the hashish used on the European black market.

However, Morocco’s domestic manufacturing and legalization initiatives are expected to claim a significant chunk of this market. Cannabis Growers In Morocco Worry About Their Future; Souad, a cannabis farmer in Azila, also believes the government’s legalization initiative has yet to report positive results.

Souad, who is in her 60s, continues to grow marijuana alongside her sons. Although she is skeptical about the chances of success, she hopes that legalization will contribute to the prosperity of her family and the underdeveloped region of the Rif Mountains.

Demand for Moroccan hash has shrunk dramatically as cannabis reform initiatives gain momentum in Europe. According to a 2021 Interior Ministry investigation, the annual income of Moroccan cannabis producers fell from 500 million euros ($490 million) in the early 21st century to under 325 million euros ($319 million) in 2020.

Karim, another grower in Azila, claimed that “the market has decreased significantly. Karim faced additional difficulties this year due to the worst drought the area had experienced in decades. He has only been able to cultivate a fraction of his family’s land this year Lack of water Farmers are witnessing increased government efforts to halt illicit production as they begin to control the Moroccan cannabis market.

Conclusion

In its latest report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime warns against the legalization of drugs, especially cannabis, for adult use. It has been claimed that while arrests for property overall have decreased, an increase in mental health problems, suicides and hospitalizations has followed.

As with some other agricultural products, herbal medicines can affect soil and water, and their final manufacturing processes, including chemical processing and waste generation, can affect the air. This brought to light the environmental impact of plant-based medicines. Morocco’s water and land resources are under more strain than ever due to population growth and climate change – which has affected around 38 million people.

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