Cannabis in Morocco

Morocco, one of the world's largest cannabis producers, legalized the cultivation of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial purposes in 2021. The legislation represented a landmark shift for a country where cannabis cultivation — particularly in the Rif Mountains — has been a major agricultural activity for centuries despite its illegal status. Morocco is estimated to be the world's largest producer of cannabis resin (hashish), with the UN estimating hundreds of thousands of hectares under cultivation.

The 2021 law established a National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (ANRAC) to oversee licensing for cultivation, production, manufacturing, and export of medical and industrial cannabis. The framework is designed to bring existing cultivation into a legal structure, provide economic opportunities for farmers in the Rif region, and develop a regulated cannabis industry for export.

Implementation of the legal framework has been gradual, with ANRAC issuing licenses for medical and industrial cannabis activities in designated regions, primarily in the traditional growing areas of Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate provinces. The transition from illicit to legal cultivation is complex, involving hundreds of thousands of farmers who have cultivated cannabis for generations. The social and economic implications of this transition are enormous.

Recreational cannabis use remains illegal in Morocco, and the legal framework focuses exclusively on medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. The country's hashish production heritage, combined with its proximity to European markets and favorable climate, positions Morocco as a potentially major player in the global legal cannabis supply chain. However, the challenge of transitioning a massive illicit agricultural sector to regulated production should not be underestimated.