The cannabis found in Europe comes from diverse origins. Indeed, many countries supply European cities. Morocco, in particular, is the leading cannabis producer in 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. It’s not a recent issue. In its deliberations regarding the legalization of this plant, the country is progressing at the same pace as many others. Slowly but surely, as the legal purists would say!
In fact, this subject is generally considered a political issue. The proof: the initiative for legalization came from the political parties. Firstly, in 2013, a proposal was put forward by the Istiqlal party. This proposal did not receive the expected response from the government. Secondly, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) also launched an initiative. On this subject, it submitted a bill in 2015. However, as some had already predicted, the proposal remained a dead letter. Many fear that ignoring bills aimed at legalizing medical cannabis in Morocco will become a tradition. 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… it backtracked a few days later. Moroccans eager to see medical cannabis legalized were disillusioned. The kingdom was back to square one. In the streets, opinions were running high!
Following this reversal, some claimed that the Moroccan government was hostile to the
legalization of medical cannabis in Morocco. Suddenly, a source close to the executive branch put a stop to this rumor, denying any intention of legalization. From this perspective, the source clarified that this issue was not among the kingdom’s major priorities.
Hope faded further among those in favor of legalization. But, in the middle of the year, the Special Commission on the Development Model (CSMD) changed the course of the situation. Indeed, she reportedly recommended that the Government legalize cannabis in Morocco, believing that, until then, the repressive approach had not been effective. This recommendation, along with the fact that the United Nations Drug Enforcement Administration removed the plant from its list of the 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 points of this draft law?
- The draft law is strictly limited to medical and industrial uses. This was predictable for some, although others also expected the legalization of recreational use.
- 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 only agency authorized to issue or revoke cultivation permits within the Kingdom.
- Production will be limited to the volumes “necessary for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications.” In this respect, production will not take place everywhere, but rather in specific areas. Licensed cannabis farmers will be required to join agricultural cooperatives and sell their produce only to authorized companies.
- Regarding import and export permits, each applicant will be required to have a secure and monitored storage facility. They’re talking about it…
Indeed, the bill 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 weighing in on the subject. In this vein, we’re sharing some of their opinions with you.
Kenza Afsahi,
- a lecturer in sociology at the University of Bordeaux and a researcher at the Emile Durkheim Center, shares her thoughts.“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, are not reaping 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 repercussions. 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 environmental degradation, exacerbated by the proliferation of introduced hybrid varieties and new, unsuitable, or poorly understood cultivation 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 receiving direct income from it. These more profitable varieties in the short term require more maintenance, more water, more fertilizer, etc. They have also generated a new market for seeds, which were previously free. Furthermore, the political and economic context has changed: Moroccan hashish faces European competition linked to the increase in home cultivation, shifting consumer preferences towards cannabis, and the emergence of new legal markets.
Hassan, speaking to the media outlet H24Info, is worried and asks:
- “Will we be trained and supported? Will the agency have a monopoly, and who can guarantee that it won’t be privatized later?”Khalid Mouna, anthropologist, researcher, and author.
“Some stakeholders won’t benefit from this, because according to some comments I’ve already received from growers, legalization will plunge them into bureaucratic and state-driven processes, present in all sectors of activity, which they don’t necessarily understand.”
- All that remains is to wait for the government to assess the issue and then approve the bill. We’ll keep you posted!
References
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https://www.newsweed.fr
- https://www.reuters.com
- https://www.moroccoworldnews.com
