Morocco: Is medical cannabis legalized?

The cannabis found in Europe comes from diverse origins. Indeed, many countries supply European cities. Morocco, in particular, is the leading cannabis producer for Europe and one of the world's largest. However, at the time of writing, the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco is still generating considerable debate. Why? Because many are wondering if the country will ultimately legalize the plant for therapeutic use, especially since a bill is currently under consideration. Let's delve into this topic below.

The first steps of the bill on the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco

Indeed, the debate on the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco is centuries old. In fact, it's not a recent phenomenon. This country, in its deliberations regarding the legalization of this plant, is progressing at the same pace as many others. Slowly but surely, as the procedural purists maintain!

In fact, this issue is generally categorized as a political problem. Proof of this lies in the fact that the legalization initiative originated with political parties. Firstly, in 2013, the Istiqlal party put forward a proposal. This proposal did not receive the expected response from the government. Secondly, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) also launched an initiative, submitting a bill on the matter in 2015. However, as some had already predicted, the proposal was ignored. Many fear that ignoring bills aimed at legalizing medical cannabis in Morocco will become the norm.

Then, to everyone's surprise, the government brought the issue back to the table in early 2020. This announcement was made by Larbi El Mharchi, a member of parliament from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). The government considered it. But… backtracked a few days later. Moroccans eager to see medical cannabis legalized were left disappointed. The kingdom was back to square one. In the streets, people started speaking out!

Following this reversal, some have suggested that the Moroccan government is opposed to the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco. Suddenly, a source close to the executive branch puts an end to this rumor, denying any intention of legalization. The source clarifies that this issue is not among the kingdom's major priorities.

Hope was fading further among legalization advocates. But, in the middle of the year, the Special Commission on the Development Model (CSMD) changed the course of events. It reportedly recommended that the government legalize cannabis in Morocco, arguing that, until then, the repressive approach had not been effective. This recommendation, along with the fact that the United Nations Drug Enforcement Administration (UNDEA) had removed the plant from its list of most tightly controlled narcotics, played a significant role.

The draft law on the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco

Despite the numerous setbacks that have marked this process, Morocco could finally legalize medical cannabis. That being said, what are the main aspects of this project?

1. The project is strictly limited to medical and industrial uses. This was predictable for some, although others also expected the legalization of recreational use.
2. A regulatory agency for cannabis-related activities, the National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Relating to Indian Hemp, will be established. Its headquarters will be in Rabat, and it may relocate to other regions or provinces of Morocco as needed. Its primary mission will be to implement the government's strategy and ensure compliance with regulations concerning the cultivation, processing, marketing, export, and import of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, or industrial purposes. Furthermore, it will be the sole authority to issue or revoke cultivation permits within the Kingdom.
3. Production will be limited to the volumes "necessary for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial purposes." From this perspective, production will not take place everywhere, but in very specific areas.
4. Licensed cannabis farmers will be required to join agricultural cooperatives and sell their produce only to authorized companies.
5. With regard to import and export permits, each applicant must have a secure and monitored storage location.

They're talking about it…

Indeed, the proposed law on the legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco is generating a lot of discussion. This is certainly due to the government's sudden desire to legalize the plant for medicinal use. Is there something fishy going on? Who knows…

In any case, some are already expressing their opinions on the matter. In this context, we are sharing some of these views with you.

• Kenza Afsahi, lecturer in sociology at the University of Bordeaux and researcher at the Emile Durkheim Centre, speaks out.

“In Morocco, we have a major challenge with illegal cannabis production in the Rif region, where hundreds of thousands of farmers, at the very beginning of the supply chain, do not derive sufficient economic and social benefits. The prohibition of recent decades has caused enormous damage: marginalization, precariousness, and a widespread climate of fear due to legal prosecutions. It has also stigmatized Morocco, which has been subjected to considerable international pressure, particularly from Europe, to reduce the area under cannabis cultivation, even though the French and Spanish protectorates played a role in the development of this crop.”

Kenza added…

"There is an urgent need for action; farmers are suffering from the degradation of their environment, exacerbated by the proliferation of introduced hybrid varieties and new, unsuitable or poorly assimilated farming techniques.".

These changes have increased the pressure on the land, already weakened by the intensification of cultivation and the exploitation of labor, including that of women who are heavily involved in farming despite not deriving any direct income from it. These more profitable varieties in the short term require more maintenance, more water, more fertilizer, and so on. They have also generated a new market for seeds, which were previously free. Moreover, the political and economic context has changed: Moroccan hashish faces European competition linked to the increase in domestic cultivation, shifting consumer preferences towards cannabis, and the emergence of new legal markets 

• Hassan, speaking to the media outlet H24Info, is worried and asking questions.

"Will we be trained and supported? Will the agency have a monopoly, and what guarantees do we have that it won't be privatized later?".

• Khalid Mouna, anthropologist, researcher and author.

"Some players will not benefit from this, because according to some comments from growers I have already received, legalization will plunge them into bureaucratic and state-driven processes, present in all sectors of activity, which they do not necessarily control.".

All that remains is to wait for the government to review the issue and then approve the bill. We'll keep you posted!

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References

1. https://newfrontierdata.com
2. https://www.newsweed.fr
3. https://www.reuters.com
4. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com