Morocco more than doubled its legal cannabis cultivation area to 4,751 hectares, a significant increase compared to the 2,169 hectares from the previous year. This growth involved 5,493 farmers organized in 366 cooperatives, a significant leap from the 2,647 registered producers in 2024.

The country reached a milestone in legal cannabis production in 2024, reaching 4,082 tons. The volume is considerably higher than the approximately 300 kilos recorded in 2023, driven by the increase in the number of authorizations for farmers.

Advancements in legal cannabis regulation

The Moroccan state granted 4,003 licenses covering cultivation, processing, commercialization, and export, representing a 20% increase in one year. Although most licenses were intended for farmers, about a hundred were allocated to operators managing processing and international trade activities.

Seed management has also intensified. The National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Related to Cannabis (ANRAC) certified 6.2 million imported seeds and authorized the use of nearly 400 tons of the local variety "Beldia," compared to 171 tons in 2024.

Chefchaouen: epicenter of the transition to legal cannabis

Of the three Rif provinces affected by legalization – Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate – Chefchaouen stands out for its dynamism. In 2025, legal cannabis covered 1,347 hectares in the region, more than double the 616 hectares in 2024, cultivated by 1,435 farmers in 104 cooperatives.

Out of this area, 1,222 hectares were planted with the Beldia variety, traditional from the Rif mountains, while 125 hectares were used for imported genetics. Local cooperatives, such as Bio Cannat, are already transforming the harvest into cosmetics and supplements for the domestic and export markets.

New products, export, and strict control

The legal cannabis industry in Morocco has begun to diversify. By September 2025, the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMMPS) had already authorized the commercialization of 67 products, including 26 cosmetics and 41 dietary supplements.

Export channels are opening up to countries such as France, Switzerland, Portugal, and Australia, signaling the country's ambition in the international market. However, the regulation is accompanied by strict control: in 2025, ANRAC conducted 5,430 inspections, resulting in the revocation of 111 licenses due to non-compliance.

Social impact and reduction of illegal cultivation

Historically, the Rif region depended on the cultivation, often illegal, of cannabis. The government estimates that 60 thousand local families depend on this crop to survive. The reform aims to improve subsistence, reduce the power of intermediaries, and integrate farmers into cooperatives.

As Abdesslam Amraji, president of the Mazarii Amdghous cooperative, explains: "The successful integration of this sector into the local agricultural fabric has encouraged other farmers to join the cooperative, which has seen its production and membership numbers grow since 2023".

Signs of progress are visible. The Ministry of the Interior notes that illegal cultivation areas have decreased by 79% in two decades. Additionally, the pardon granted in 2024 by King Mohammed VI to 4,831 farmers facing legal proceedings illustrates a policy of reconciliation with previously criminalized communities.

With information from NewsWeed