Morocco’s legal cannabis sector is seeing rapid growth as this year’s harvest gets underway, with dozens of new products registered and cultivation expanding across the northern regions, according to data obtained by Hespress AR.
So far, 67 cannabis-derived products have been approved by the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, including 26 cosmetic items and 41 dietary supplements. Registration with the agency is mandatory before any cannabis-based product can be sold domestically or exported.
Regulatory oversight has also intensified. By the end of 2024, the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities carried out 2,202 inspections, covering farming, seed imports, marketing, exports, processing, and transport. Transport checks accounted for more than half of the total, with 1,253 operations.
Cultivation of Morocco’s traditional cannabis strain, known locally as “beldia,” expanded sharply this season, reaching 4,400 hectares compared with 1,400 hectares last year. About 4,490 farmers are now involved in licensed production, organized into 250 cooperatives across Taounate, Chefchaouen, and Al Hoceima provinces.
In addition, the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) authorized 1,340 hectares for cultivation with imported seeds. That production involves 1,650 farmers grouped in 50 cooperatives licensed to import seeds this year.
Officials say the sector is gradually shifting from an informal economy to a regulated industry aimed at generating legal income for farmers, encouraging innovation, and positioning Morocco as a competitive player in the fast-growing global market for medical, cosmetic, and nutritional cannabis products.
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