Cannabis farmers in Morocco are divided over the legalization of cannabis for recreational and traditional uses, despite the ongoing efforts to regulate its cultivation for medical and industrial purposes.
In recent weeks, organizations advocating for the legalization of recreational cannabis use have begun holding discussions with political parties to explore the possibility of legalizing this practice.
The Moroccan Observatory for Cannabis Regulation, a key player in these discussions, is pushing for the decriminalization of “recreational consumption,” which includes the traditional method of smoking cannabis, known locally as “sbsi.”
Some leaders of cooperatives involved in the legal cannabis market are supporting the idea of regulating traditional cannabis consumption, arguing that it could boost farmers’ income and help reduce illegal drug trafficking. “In our region, many people have smoked ‘kif’ through ‘sbsi’ for decades without significant health problems, and legalizing it would help farmers financially,” said Fredi Ahithour, president of the Tizi Ifri Kob cooperative in the Rif region.
Ahithour, whose cooperative consists of 50 farmers, added that legalizing traditional cannabis consumption could also attract foreign investors to the region, particularly in cities like Tangier. He emphasized that this move could help protect the local cannabis product and promote it in international markets.
However, other cooperative leaders remain cautious, expressing uncertainty over the term “recreational consumption” and calling for more time to assess the impact of legal cannabis cultivation for medical uses. Abdellatif Azbib, president of the Azbib cooperative in the Iznassen area, said, “We need clarity on what is meant by recreational consumption before proceeding with any new legislation.”
Azbib, whose cooperative includes 50 farmers, emphasized that while cannabis cultivation is now legal for medical and industrial purposes, the priority should be improving local education and infrastructure before advancing further cannabis-related legislation.
Moroccan farmers are now looking to assess the economic impact of the new legal framework for cannabis cultivation before pushing for further reforms.
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