Morocco doubles its legal cannabis cultivation to 4,751 hectares by 2025

Morocco has more than doubled its legal cannabis cultivation areas to reach 4,751 hectares, up from 2,169 hectares the previous year.

This growth has concerned 5,493 farmers grouped together in 366 cooperatives, against 2,647 farmers in 2024. The State has also granted 4,003 licenses covering cultivation, processing, marketing, and export, representing a 20% increase over the past year. While most of the permits were granted to farmers, about 100 were issued to operators managing downstream activities such as processing and international trade.

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

Chefchaouen at the heart of the legal transition

Among the three Rif provinces concerned through legalization - Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate – , Chefchaouen stands out for its dynamism. In 2025, legal cannabis covered 1,347 hectares, which is more than double the 616 hectares cultivated in 2024. These crops were insured by 1,435 farmers distributed among 104 cooperatives.

On this area, 1,222 hectares were planted with the Beldia variety, a traditional variety deeply rooted in the Rif Mountains, while 125 hectares were used for imported genetics. Local cooperatives, such as Bio Cannat in Bab Berred, already transforming the harvests into cosmetics and dietary supplements intended for the domestic market, with part of the production also being exported.

For producers in the field, this change is not just agricultural. As Abdesslam Amraji, president of the cooperative, explains Mazarii Amdghous 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 increase since 2023.«

Products, exports, and strict controls

The legal industry has begun to diversify beyond raw cultivation. By 2025, 21 dietary supplements and 16 cosmetic products derived from cannabis have been registered with the Moroccan Medicines and Health Products Agency (AMMPS). Export channels are opening to the France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, Australia, and South Africa, a sign of the country's ambition to position itself as a key player in regulated international markets.

But authorities insist that the Regulation goes hand in hand with control. In 2025, the ANRAC carried out 5,430 inspections in the fields of cultivation, seed importation, processing, transportation, and exportation. As a consequence, 111 licenses were revoked for non-compliance. Legalization in Morocco, officials emphasize, «is not a self-service, it is a responsibility with clear rules.».

This transformation also has a social dimension. Historically, the The Rif region was dependent on cannabis cultivation, often illegal. The Moroccan government estimates that 60,000 families in these provinces depend on this culture for their survival. By integrating them into the legal framework, the reform aims to improve livelihoods, reduce the burden of intermediaries, and integrate farmers into structured cooperatives.

The signs of progress are already visible. The Ministry of the Interior notes that illegal cultivation areas have decreased by 79% over two decades, falling from 134,000 hectares in 2003 to just over 27,000 in 2023. Furthermore, the pardon granted in 2024 by King Mohammed VI illustrates a policy of reconciliation with communities long criminalized for their work.