The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) said on Monday that the legal cannabis industry has yielded a successful first harvest, exceeding expectations with a total of 294 metric tons cultivated in 2023.
This marks a significant turning point for the country, which has long been a major producer of cannabis, albeit mostly for illegal purposes.
ANRAC spearheaded this initiative, aiming to improve the lives of farmers and regulate the cannabis trade.
The 2023 harvest came from 32 cooperatives, representing 430 farmers, working across 277 hectares in the Rif Mountains, a region traditionally associated with cannabis cultivation.
ANRAC said that this harvest represents just a fraction of the Rif’s potential for cannabis production.
The United Nations drug agency estimates that roughly 47,000 hectares in the Rif are currently dedicated to cannabis cultivation, though this has significantly declined due to past government crackdowns.
Looking forward, the legal cannabis industry appears poised for further growth. ANRAC is currently reviewing applications from over 1,500 farmers organized into 130 cooperatives.
Planting of the local, drought-resistant cannabis strain known as Beldia has already begun this month.
The legalization of cannabis cultivation and export for medicinal and industrial uses aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers in northern Morocco, where cannabis has been a mainstay of the local economy for generations.
This shift from illegal production dominated by drug traffickers to a regulated system empowers farmers and provides a safer and more sustainable income source.
Morocco also seeks to tap into the burgeoning global market for legal cannabis. With recreational use still officially illegal, the focus lies on medicinal and industrial applications.
ANRAC reports that 15 cannabis-based medicinal products are currently undergoing the authorization process, along with two operational cannabis processing facilities and two more awaiting equipment.
Additionally, 54 export permits were awarded in 2023, indicating Morocco’s ambition to become a significant player in the legal cannabis trade.
The success of the first harvest and the planned expansion suggest that Morocco’s legal cannabis industry has the potential to be a significant economic force while also improving the lives of farmers and fostering a more regulated cannabis market.
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