Long-term storage of Moroccan cannabis resin leads to major chemical changes that could create new opportunities for medical use, says a study carried out by a team from the Royal Gendarmerie’s forensic science institute in Rabat and the Applied Organic Chemistry Laboratory at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez.
The research, published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature group, is the first of its kind to use real confiscated samples of Moroccan hashish stored for up to eight years.
The study analyzed 150 samples seized in Morocco’s Rif region between 2015 and 2023.
Results show that the psychoactive compound THC, responsible for the “high,” drops sharply after just two years of storage, from around 35% to 2.7%.
In contrast, compounds with therapeutic properties, such as CBD and CBN, increase over time, reaching more than 6.9% after several years.
These shifts mean old stored hashish has lower recreational potency but potentially higher medical value.
Researchers used advanced lab equipment to track how the main chemical ingredients in cannabis change over time, and computer models to predict how much of each compound remains after years of storage.
They built mathematical formulas capable of estimating THC, CBD, and CBN levels based on storage years, or even calculating the age of a seized sample from its chemical composition.
This model could help Moroccan authorities determine whether confiscated cannabis is newly produced or stored for years.
The study comes as Morocco continues its bid to legalizing medicinal and industrial cannabis, since 2021.
The study shows how storage methods, often basic and uncontrolled in rural areas, directly affect the plant’s chemical makeup and potential uses.
The findings suggest new possibilities for reusing stored cannabis in pharmaceutical production, particularly in products targeting pain, inflammation, and sleep disorders.
The study provides data that could support Morocco’s efforts to move from informal cannabis cultivation and trafficking toward a regulated, science-based market.
Researchers warned that improper storage can destroy key compounds and create unknown byproducts, calling for more in-depth chemical analysis.
They said future research using advanced tools could help identify these new substances and determine their effects.
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