National agency for legalizing cannabis details progress, performance and lays steps ahead

The National Agency for Legalizing Activities Related to Cannabis will start producing agricultural cannabis destined for legal activities next year.

As licenses were are granted to eight activities, preparations are underway for farmers to obtain licenses to carry out legal cultivation this year.

Mohamed El Guerrouj, Acting Director General of the National Agency for Legalizing Activities Related to Cannabis, said in an interview with Hespress that “a lot of work has been done since the creation of the agency, and the basis of the work is the legal aspect,” adding that work is being done with all stakeholders and relevant ministerial sectors. Including health, agriculture, industry and commerce, and the National Food Safety Office, not to mention the local authorities.

LICENSING ACTIVITIES

El Guerrouj revealed that the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Cannabis has granted licenses to 45 activities that are stipulated by the law.

In this regard, he indicated that the licenses granted to date do not include any license for farmers, as this license requires defining the activities that will proceed it, or defining the industry to which this agriculture will be directed, and finally the path of its product.

During his interview with Hespress, El Guerrouj explained the process saying that in general, the law provides for the granting of licenses for nine activities:

The first of these is related to the farmer, which is production and agriculture. It is carried out by the farmer, and has a direct relationship with the land in three codified regions (Chefchaouen, Taounate, and Al Hoceima).

‌El Guerrouj explained that the second activity concerns the import, export, and exploitation of seeds and seedlings, highlighting that, they are not carried out by companies. While the rest of the activities are entrusted to companies, which are those related to the transformation, transportation, marketing, export, and import of cannabis products.

He continued, “A number of licenses have been granted and work is being done to find out what quantities are needed, for example, to produce medicine, the number of farmers who will work with manufacturers will be determined, as well as the hectares that they need to cultivate.”

He stressed that the law is on its way, and that “there is no possible delay,” pointing out that “all these activities are linked to the farmer, which is the essence of the process.”‌

The official explained that, in order to increase production during the next agricultural season, “exceptional licenses have been granted to import seeds.” They did urgent work with the National Office for Health Safety of Food Products and the Ministry of Agriculture to obtain them, so that farmers could work during the 2023 season.

TRAINING FARMERS

During his interview with Hespress, El Guerrouj explained that the agency will hold a training program for farmers and cooperatives before the end of December.

“The agricultural season will start next February,” stressing that farmers will be trained to carry out all the primary activities such as collection, drying and others.”

local field training awareness campaign will also be carried out between January and March, in full coordination with the local authorities.

MOROCCAN COMPANIES

‌El Guerrouj said, “We will only work with Moroccan companies, and no licenses can be granted to any foreign companies, and whoever carries out the activities must be of Moroccan nationality and work and live in the areas established in the law.”

The official stressed that all companies that will be newly established to work in the field of cannabis will be in the aforementioned regions, except for companies that are already established and have headquarters in other existing cities, with the requirement of creating special units for them, he said: “For example, if there is a major independent drug company with its headquarters in a specific city, we cannot force its transfer from its place.”

The spokesman stressed that “there are investors who started building their factories in Al Hoceima,” continuing, “Our goal is to develop these areas and ensure income for their residents, the product has a great additional value in which the farmer must profit from.”‌

LOCAL CROP

‌The official announced the agency’s intention to develop the local product, or the so-called “Beldia”.

‌In this context, El Guerrouj indicated that “a contract has been concluded with the Institute of Agriculture and Veterinary INRA, the Royal Gendarmerie Laboratory and the Agency for the Development of the Northern Provinces of the Kingdom, and that there is land that has been placed at our disposal by the prefecture of Al-Hoceima with an area of ​​more than 10 hectares to establish a laboratory, as well as other facilities jointly funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agency.”

To develop this local product, he said, “There is a three-year program to have national and local varieties of this product.”

‌The appointment of Mohamed El Guerrouj, governor of El-Jadida province, as Acting Director-General of the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Cannabis, until a Director-General is appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 49 of the Constitution, was decided by the Moroccan Prime Minister after Royal approval.