The Moroccan Parliament adopted, yesterday, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, a bill authorizing the use of cannabis for medical, cosmetics and industrial purposes, despite the sling of the Islamists of the Justice and Development Party (PJD).
Morocco has decided to legalize the therapeutic use of cannabis, with a legal framework intended to allow the State to enhance a lucrative culture currently in the hands of traffickers.
This legalization will go through the creation of a national regulatory agency responsible for developing an agricultural and industrial circuit, with “regulatory perimeters”, “cooperatives of authorized farmers” and “certified plants”, according to the bill approved.
The bill advocates the grouping of farmers in the form of cooperatives which will be in charge of signing contracts with manufacturers.
This bill was adopted by majority by the deputies despite the opposition of the PJD who directs the government coalition.
Morocco is classified as the world’s leading producer of cannabis resin, according to the 2020 annual report of the United Nations Drugs and Crime.
The official figures unveiled report “55,000 hectares cultivated in 2019” with annual income which increased from around 500 million euros in the early 2000s to almost 325 million euros in 2020, and a “consolidated turnover in Europe” of almost 10.8 billion euros.
