Tag: morocco

Morocco Exports First Legal Medical Cannabis To Australia

Written by Johnny Green on August 17, 2025. Posted in Business.

Cannabis being exported from Morocco to markets in other countries is not a new thing. After all, Morocco has served as a top source for unregulated cannabis for decades. However, policymakers and regulators in Morocco have worked in recent years to transition the nation’s cannabis industry into a regulated system.

In March 2021, the government of Morocco approved a proclamation allowing the legal production of medical cannabis. The proclamation was followed by additional policies and the creation of a national agency to oversee Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry.

A significant focus of the cannabis policy modernization effort in Morocco was to promote international exports of medical cannabis products to other countries, aiming to boost the domestic Moroccan economy. This effort reached a major milestone this month, with Morocco’s legal cannabis industry completing its first export to Australia.

“Morocco has officially entered the international medical cannabis market with its first export to Australia.” reported APA News in its local coverage. “This initial shipment marks a significant milestone for the country, which is rapidly formalizing its cannabis industry.”

“A 50-kilogram batch of the local Baldiya cannabis variety was shipped to Australia this week, following a successful quality control sample sent in June.” the outlet also reported.

A recent study conducted in Morocco found that the Baldiya cannabis strain exhibits a higher level of chemical stability compared to other strains commonly cultivated in Morocco. The study was performed by researchers affiliated with various academic institutions in Morocco, and the findings of the study were published in the journal Food Chemistry Advances.

“In this study, a comprehensive analysis of Cannabis sativa L. cultivars was conducted, focusing on the phytocannabinoid profiles of resin from one local cultivar ‘Beldiya’ and four exotic cultivars over three consecutive crop years.” stated the researchers about the focus of their investigation.

“The cannabinoid composition of the resin from the studied cultivars was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS/TSQ Endura) to evaluate the chemical variability in phytocannabinoid compounds among the cultivars and across the harvest years.” the researchers wrote about their methodology.

“The results showed significant chemical polymorphism among the studied cultivars, with the clustering of phytocannabinoids, indicating three distinct chemical groups based on the concentrations of the major cannabinoids.” the researchers concluded. “In addition, only the local Northern Moroccan cultivar Beldiya demonstrated chemical stability across the three harvest years, whereas the exotic cultivars exhibited heterogeneity from one year to another.”

A market analysis from last year found that Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry could reach between $420 million and $630 million in value annually.

Legal Cannabis Cultivators Call For Adult-Use Legalization In Morocco

Written by Hazel Norman on January 19, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Legal cannabis cultivators and advocates in Morocco are urging the nation’s lawmakers to adopt recreational cannabis legalization. Morocco first adopted its current medical cannabis policy in 2021, with ten entities receiving permits to legally cultivate cannabis in late 2022. The number of legal cultivators has increased exponentially since 2022.

“Growers and activists say legalizing recreational and traditional cannabis use could ease market pressures while bringing economic benefits.” reported Newsweed in its original coverage. “Such measures could not only boost domestic sales, but also attract tourists, especially as Morocco prepares to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”

According to the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-related Activities (ANRAC), Morocco issued 2,837 authorizations to 2,659 farmers in 2024, up from 430 authorizations in 2023.

Additionally, regulators in Morocco issued 60 authorizations for processing, 49 for marketing, 39 for exports, and 24 for seed imports. The increase in authorizations in 2024 demonstrated the growth of Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry.

ANRAC Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj recently announced at an annual board meeting that the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry produced thousands of tons of cannabis last year.

“In 2024, approximately 4,000 tons of cannabis were produced over an area of 2,169 hectares,” ANRAC Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj stated about Morocco’s legal cannabis industry according to local reporting by APA News. “No infractions related to non-compliance were recorded.”

The climate in parts of Morocco is well-suited for large-scale cannabis production, which is why the North African nation has long served as a leading source of unregulated cannabis, particularly as a source for the European market.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, nearly five dozen countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization policies to some degree.

Morocco’s Legal Industry Produced 4,000 Tons Of Cannabis In 2024

Written by Hazel Norman on January 4, 2025. Posted in Business.

Morocco’s National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj recently announced at an annual board meeting that the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry produced thousands of tons of cannabis last year.

APA News also reported the following statistics for Morocco’s legal cannabis industry in 2024:

3,371 licenses were granted out of 4,158 applications, reflecting an approval rate of nearly 81%
3,056 permits were issued to 2,907 farmers for cannabis cultivation and production – up from the 430 licenses issued in 2023
315 licenses were granted to 158 sector operators

In recent years, Morocco’s government has worked to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies and regulations to permit legal cannabis production and commerce.

Thousands Of Farmers In Morocco Have Received Authorization To Cultivate Cannabis In 2024

Written by Hazel Norman on September 5, 2024. Posted in Business.

In recent years, Morocco’s government has worked to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies and regulations to permit legal cannabis production and commerce. According to recently released statistics from Morocco, production authorizations have increased exponentially in 2024.

According to the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-related Activities (ANRAC), Morocco has issued 2,837 authorizations to 2,659 farmers so far in 2024, up from 430 authorizations in 2023.

Additionally, regulators in Morocco have issued 60 authorizations for processing, 49 for marketing, 39 for exports, and 24 for seed imports. The increase in authorizations in 2024 demonstrates the growth of Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry.

Earlier this month, Morocco’s king pardoned nearly 5,000 farmers previously convicted of cultivating cannabis. The pardons issued by King Mohammed VI should “encourage farmers” to get involved in Morocco’s emerging legal cannabis industry to “improve their revenue and living conditions” the head of ANRAC stated according to initial reporting by Reuters.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization policies to some degree. Morocco is trying to gain a meaningful share of a legal global cannabis industry that is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

Morocco Unveils Logo For Legal Cannabis Products

Written by Hazel Norman on April 15, 2024. Posted in Business, Policy.

Last month Morocco’s Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités relatives au Cannabis (ANRAC) reported the nation’s first legal cannabis crop, which totaled a reported 294 metric tons. It was a major milestone for a nation that has long been associated with the cannabis trade, albeit the unregulated cannabis trade.

Historically, Morocco is one of the world’s largest sources of unregulated cannabis, with Moroccan cannabis being particularly popular in Europe. The first legal harvest reported last month is part of a new government program in Morocco that was launched to give cannabis farmers in the North African nation a path to join the regulated industry.

Morocco first adopted its current medical cannabis policy in 2021. The measure authorized the legal production of cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial uses, as well as tasked a national agency to oversee the launch and operation of the industry.

In March 2022, Morocco’s government selected three provinces where medical cannabis would eventually be legally cultivated for domestic and export purposes. Roughly three months later, the nation’s national cannabis regulatory agency, ANRAC, met for the first time. In October 2022, Morocco issued its first cannabis production permits.

Now, the North African nation has announced that it has adopted an official logo for legal cannabis products created within its borders:

Many legal jurisdictions adopt an official symbol for cannabis products for various reasons, not the least of which is to alert people that the product contains cannabinoids. For Morocco, given its long history with the cannabis plant, the logo could eventually become more than just a symbol for legal cannabis products, but rather, a symbol for the nation’s entire emerging legal industry.

According to excerpts from initial reporting by Morocco World News, “The official gazette notice emphasized that the logo should be used as a label on all legalized cannabis products…It further emphasized that if the color used in the logo is not possible, the logo can be used in black and white.

hemp-cannabis-flower-plant-garden-outdoor hemp-cannabis-flower-plant-garden-outdoor

Morocco Reports First Legal Cannabis Harvest

Written by Hazel Norman on March 18, 2024. Posted in Business, Policy.

According to Morocco’s Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités relatives au Cannabis (ANRAC), the nation’s first legal cannabis crop totaled 294 metric tons.

The legal harvest is part of a new government program in Morocco that was launched to give cannabis farmers in the North African nation a path to join the regulated industry. Historically, Morocco is one of the world’s largest sources of unregulated cannabis, with Moroccan cannabis being particularly popular in Europe.

The recent harvest is the culmination of years of effort on the part of Morocco’s emerging industry, regulators, and elected officials. It will take a while before Morocco’s legal industry supplants its unregulated industry, however, the 294 metric ton harvest is still a major milestone. Per excerpts from Reuters:

The harvest was made by 32 cooperatives that brought together 430 farmers covering 277 hectares in the northern Rif mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen, ANRAC said in an email to Reuters.

This year, the regulator is examining applications by 1,500 farmers who organised themselves into 130 cooperatives, ANRAC said.

Nearly a million people live in areas of northern Morocco where cannabis is the main economic activity. It has been publicly grown and smoked there for generations, mixed with tobacco in traditional long-stemmed pipes with clay bowls.

The value of Morocco’s medical cannabis market was valued at USD 24.90 million in 2022 according to Grand View Research. The nation’s medical cannabis market is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48.0% from 2023 to 2030.

Cannabis industry data company BDSA projects that the legal global cannabis industry will be worth $55 billion by 2027.

Morocco’s King Appoints General Director Of National Cannabis Agency

Written by Hazel Norman on October 30, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Back in mid-2021, Morocco passed a key measure that has helped pave the way for the nation’s emerging legal cannabis industry. Morocco has long served as a top source for unregulated cannabis, particularly for the European continent.

Now, thanks to the nation modernizing its cannabis policies, legal cannabis is cultivated in multiple Moroccan provinces. Roughly one year ago, Morocco issued ten permits for legal medical cannabis cultivation. Farmer cooperatives in the northern mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat, and Chefchaouen received the permits.

The agency that oversees the nation’s emerging legal industry is the National Agency for Regulating Cannabis Related Activities, which met for the first time in June 2022. The agency recently received a new general director. Per Morocco World News:

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appointed Mohamed El Guerrouj as general director of the National Agency for Regulating Cannabis Related Activities (ANRAC).

The appointment was announced during the Council of Ministers meeting held in Rabat on Thursday.

Prior to the new appointment, El Guerrouj has been serving as an interim director for ANRAC since September 2022.

It will be some time before Morocco’s legal industry expands to a point that it can compete in any meaningful way with the nation’s unregulated market. Just as the unregulated market still exists in other legal jurisdictions, the same will always be true in Morocco to some extent.

With that being said, any economic stimulus that the emerging industry can provide is presumably very much welcomed in Morocco where per capita income is low and jobs are often hard to come by.

Morocco Government Issues Ten Permits For Cannabis Production

Written by Frank Schuler on October 11, 2022. Posted in Business, Policy.

Morocco first adopted its current medical cannabis policy last year. The 2021 measure authorized the legal production of cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial uses, as well as tasked a national agency to oversee the launch and operation of the industry.

Back in March of this year Morocco’s government selected three provinces where medical cannabis would eventually be legally cultivated for domestic and export purposes. Roughly three months later the nation’s national cannabis regulatory agency met for the first time, moving the launch of the nation’s legal industry one step closer.

This month Morocco’s industry effectively did launch, in that the government issued its first round of cannabis production permits. Per Reuters:

A Moroccan state agency has issued the first 10 permits for the use of cannabis in industry and medicine and for export, it said, the result of a law passed last year.

Farmers who organise into cooperatives in the northern mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen will be gradually allowed to grow cannabis to meet the needs of the legal market, the agency said.

Morocco has long served as a top source for unregulated cannabis, particularly hashish. Consumers and patients all over the world, and particularly in Europe, consider Morocco’s unregulated cannabis products to be top shelf.

It will be interesting to see if Morocco’s success in the unregulated market transfers over to the regulated industry. Only time will tell, although, the speed at which Morocco is moving is certainly encouraging.

Morocco’s National Cannabis Regulatory Agency Meets For The First Time

Written by Frank Schuler on June 9, 2022. Posted in Business, Policy.

Morocco is one of many countries around the world that are working towards reforming their cannabis laws and launching a legal, regulated cannabis industry.

For several decades Morocco has served as an international source of cannabis, albeit an unregulated one. Hashish from Morocco is common in parts of Europe, especially Spain.

The demand for cannabis products from Morocco is clearly there, it’s just a matter of getting the country and legal global industry to a point where legal supply can meet legal demand, and that is also true for domestic sales.

That will be awhile, however, Morocco did recently take a significant step in that direction when its regulatory agency met for the first time. Per The New Arab:

Morocco’s national regulatory agency overseeing the use of marijuana for medical use met for the first time on Thursday in one of the last steps before legalisation in the world’s top cannabis-resin producer.

The North African nation adopted a law in 2021 provisionally authorising the legal uses of cannabis for medical, cosmetic and industrial uses, and tasked a national agency to oversee the process.

Chaired by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities approved its organisation chart and budget for the year 2022.

A regulated industry cannot exist without a regulatory body overseeing it, and from that perspective, the inaugural meeting by the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities is a big deal in Morocco. Hopefully it helps speeds things up.