Morocco is one of the world's leading cannabis producers, with most of its production being transported – discreetly – to Europe by land and sea. (Photo credit: Sebastian Gollnow/picture Alliance via Getty Images)
Hamid Shishissen comes from a long line of Moroccan cannabis growers.
However, this October's harvest is different. This is the first time his crop has been legalized. Sissen, 32, is from Bab Beled, a small town in the Rif Mountains that runs along the Mediterranean coast. It is one of the poorest regions in Morocco.
With few economic alternatives, farmers have been growing illegal cannabis for generations.
Morocco is famous for kif, shredded cannabis that is mixed with tobacco and smoked in long pipes or rolled into joints. Kif smoked recreationally is still illegal. However, Morocco has legalized cannabis for medical, industrial and cosmetic uses and established a regulatory body to oversee its production.
Last April, the country even unveiled a logo for approved cannabis products. It consists of a green marijuana leaf surrounded by a red emblem reminiscent of the national flag.
Saudi Arabia wants to cut down on drug traffickers and normalize its cannabis industry, which produced about 900 tons of resin in 2022.
Morocco is one of the world's leading cannabis producers, with most of its production being transported – discreetly – to Europe by land and sea.
The state's next challenge is to get its army of cannabis growers, including farmers like Sissen, on board. It's not easy. Farmers will need to obtain farm licenses and work with pharmaceutical companies to legally use their crops. That means following new regulations and paying taxes.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Interior, around 760,000 Moroccans depend on cannabis production for their livelihood, or more than 2% of the population. Most are in the undeveloped Rif region, which has historically been a flashpoint for violence fueled by the region's marginalization.
Many farmers have doubts about cooperating with the state. Many fear it will cost them.
“My fear is that the profits will go to the state, to research institutes, to multinational corporations, and we will be left behind,” said Mohamed Amjiril, a farmer in his 60s who grows cannabis in the seaside town of Al Hoceima. said.
Shisen is trying it out. He partnered with a company in Tangier that uses cannabis to make medicines. He is also the chairman of the Ben Amr Cooperative for Cannabis Legalization.
“We grow a variety called Beldia, which does not require irrigation.Currently, we have about 14 hectares of acreage and employ 15 smallholder farmers,” said Sissen. .
“Farmers were initially hesitant to follow the new procedures, fearing that the government would stop cannabis cultivation. However, after seeing positive results from other cooperatives, they became optimistic. I started working legally.”
Cannabis is typically planted in April and May when the weather is warmer and harvested in September and October.
In 2023, the first legal harvest in Morocco was 294 tons. Regulators say production is expected to increase significantly this year, with 10 times that amount of licensed cannabis land, to around 2,700 hectares. By comparison, around 55,000 hectares were under illegal cultivation in 2019, the latest figures available.
Even among avid farmers, the move toward legalization still faces obstacles. Farmers must prove ownership of the land if they want to obtain permits, but many claim their land is inherited and simply do not have documentation.
Some farmers say they can make more money by selling illegal produce. Doris Anuar Boutazamat, a cannabis researcher at Sultan Moulay Suliman Beni Meral University, said one of the main benefits of legalization is that it would give farmers legal protection.
“They are now legally recognized and are no longer forced to operate in the shadows,” he says. “This change is significant, especially with the royal pardon granted to farmers who had lived for years in fear of arrest and were unable to trade freely.”
Co-published with Egab.
This article was first published continentA weekly pan-African newspaper produced in partnership with . email and guardian. Designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp. Download your free copy here
