Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has granted pardons to nearly 5,000 individuals convicted or wanted on charges related to illegal cannabis cultivation, the justice ministry announced on Monday. This significant move is part of Morocco’s broader effort to regulate the cannabis industry and shift cultivation practices toward legal frameworks.
Morocco, known as a leading global producer of cannabis, legalised the cultivation, export, and use of the plant for medicinal and industrial purposes in 2021. However, recreational use of cannabis remains prohibited. The king’s pardon aims to motivate farmers to transition to legal cultivation methods, thus improving their livelihoods.
‘The royal pardon is a strong incentive for farmers to participate in the legal cannabis cultivation process, which is designed to enhance their income and living conditions,’ stated Mohammed El Guerrouj, head of Morocco’s cannabis regulatory agency, ANRAC, in an interview with Reuters.
Morocco’s first legal cannabis harvest in 2023 produced 294 metric tonnes, according to official statistics. Legal exports, which began the same year, have so far reached 225 kilograms, with expectations of increased output as more farming permits are issued and ANRAC authorises the cultivation of the indigenous cannabis strain known as Beldia.
The number of farming permits is set to rise this year, further boosting the legal cannabis market. In 2022 alone, Morocco awarded 54 export permits, positioning itself to tap into the rapidly expanding global market for legal cannabis.
In northern Morocco, nearly a million people rely on cannabis as their primary source of income. The region has a long history of cannabis cultivation, with the plant being traditionally grown and consumed locally. The 2021 legalisation initiative was designed to protect these farmers from the influence of drug traffickers, who have historically dominated the illegal cannabis trade.
By encouraging the shift to legal cultivation, the Moroccan government aims to create a more sustainable and profitable cannabis industry that benefits both farmers and the national economy. The king’s recent pardons are seen as a crucial step in reinforcing this transition, offering a pathway for those previously involved in illegal activities to join the legal cannabis market.
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