85% less illegal cannabis cultivation: has Morocco's legalization achieved the impossible?

The ongoing transformation of the cannabis in Morocco is having a measurable impact. Two decades after becoming symbol of large-scale illicit cultivation in the Rif mountains, the kingdom is now presenting figures that the authorities describe as «spectacular». According to the Ministry of the Interior, the area devoted to illegal cannabis cultivation has decreased by 85%, This is one of the biggest changes ever recorded in the country.

A structural reform with visible effects

This decline is part of a national strategy launched by with law 13-21, adopted in 2021, which regulates cannabis for medical purposes. medical, cosmetics and industrial. Long before legalization, Morocco was considered one of the world's leading producers of recreational cannabis, whose cultivation was deeply rooted. in the northern provinces. The reform aims to gradually reorient this historic agricultural activity towards a controlled, value-added supply chain.

According to official data, illegal cultivation fell from 134,000 hectares in 2003 to 20,627 hectares in 2025. The authorities attribute this decline to a combination of measures: intensified dismantling operations, improved security capabilities and increased seizures targeting smuggling networks. Between January and August 2025 alone, security forces seized more than 385 tonnes of hashish and 61 tons of cannabis, 344 tonnes and 112 tonnes respectively in 2024. These operations also led to the dismantling of several criminal networks and the seizure of vehicles, speedboats and jet-skis used for trafficking.

This security component is designed to complement, not replace, the ongoing economic transition. An important part of the government's approach is to offer farmers legal alternatives, rather than simply cracking down on illegal cultivation. The authorities insist that «integrating farmers into a legal, high value-added supply chain» has been key to the results seen so far.

Legal culture grows in the Rif

The regulated sector continues to develop under the supervision of the Agence nationale de réglementation des activités liées au cannabis (ANRAC). By the end of 2023, the’ANRAC had issued over 3,000 licenses to farmers operating within cooperatives in the provinces of Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate, the same regions where illegal cultivation was traditionally concentrated.

In 2025, the area devoted to licensed cannabis cultivation reached 4,751 hectares, more than double that of 2,169 hectares the previous year. The local variety «beldia» is also promoted as a high value-added product that can contribute to the economic development of mountain communities.

To support this transition, 111 cooperatives have been set up, along with 17 industrial units dedicated to processing legally grown cannabis. These facilities are at the heart of the government's plan to integrate small farmers into a structured value chain and ensure that the added value remains in the region.

Morocco's strategy aims to strike a balance between economic development and strict control. Recreational use remains prohibited, and law enforcement remains a central pillar of reform. However, the authorities are aware that the persistence of ’limited activities« in certain areas requires ongoing surveillance and seizures.

Nevertheless, the combined legislative, economic and security components appear to be reshaping an entire sector that had long operated outside the law. The government believes that this model can support the development of mountainous regions in the north, traditionally marked by economic precariousness.