Morocco Begins Legal Cultivation of Cannabis
This month marked the start of the country’s first legal growing season for cannabis.
In May 2023, the Moroccan government allowed farmers to begin cultivation of cannabis for the legal market, two years after allowing farming for medical, industrial, and export purposes (1,2). The move was also intended to help impoverished farmers in the region and curb the influence of the illegal market (1).
Cannabis is mostly grown in the northern mountainous region and the country is considered by the United Nations (UN) to be the world's largest producer of cannabis resin (2). Cannabis for recreational purposes is still illegal and growing it has been illegal since 1976 (1).
"The legal market will guarantee them income four to five times higher than what they earned illegally," said Mohammed El Guerrouj, director of Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités Relatives au Cannabis (ANRAC) (2). "Through their cooperatives, they will negotiate prices. They will have a fixed income, which will provide them with the ability to invest and improve their lifestyle."
Cannabis has been grown illegally in the country for decades, but last year the first 10 permits were given to grow cannabis for the legal market (3). The first permit for a cannabis laboratory to process cannabis in food and pharmaceutical industries was issued last year as well (4).
“More than 400 farmers have already obtained a cultivation permit and 75 operators have received processing, marketing or export permits, including pharmaceutical industries, agribusinesses, cooperatives and individuals," El Guerroj also stated. (2). The Moroccan government distributed seeds manufactured in Switzerland to the participating farmers to begin the cultivation (1).
Concerns for the future direction and impact of the market include resistance from the farmers who are most familiar with the illegal market and the lack of plans to legalize cannabis for recreational use (2).
References
- https://www.leafie.co.uk/news/moroccan-farmers-legal-cultivation-cannabis/
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2023/05/08/morocco-two-years-after-the-cannabis-law-farmers-in-the-rif-still-in-the-dark_6025848_124.html
- https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/morocco-issues-first-permits-cannabis-production-2022-10-05/
- https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/morocco-opens-first-lab-for-cannabis-use-in-industry-medicine/2838693
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
