Morocco: The United States is (already) interested in legalizing «kif».»

Morocco has not yet legalized the medical marijuana that Americans are already interested in it. Two industrial groups have thus traveled to the northern part of the country, reports the Moroccan news site Le360. The two representatives from these American companies came to meet with cannabis producers as well as civil society representatives. At this time, the identities of these companies operating in the Kingdom of Morocco are unknown.

Their visit was no coincidence. Just one week ago, the Moroccan government introduced a bill with a view to legalizing medical cannabis. Parliament still has to vote on it before it takes effect. And even as politicians from the ruling party, the PJD (Islamist and conservative), are at each other’s throats, the Americans—for their part—are pulling ahead.

Goal: to establish a presence in the northern part of the country. For decades, the Rif has been a major center for the cultivation of «kif,» the Moroccan Arabic name for cannabis. And this mountainous region could be among the first to be affected by a potential legalization of medical cannabis. «This integrated program will target 98 rural municipalities [in the north] located in provinces where cannabis is cultivated and with a combined population of one million,», announcement the head of the Agency for the Promotion and Development of the North, speaking to the MAP news agency.

The United States has long been interested in «kif»

This isn't the first time Americans have taken an interest in «kif.» In 2017, a report A highly official report from the State Department—the equivalent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—assessed the considerable influence of Moroccan cannabis. «Morocco is the world's largest producer and exporter of cannabis.», the U.S. government simply summarizes. Backed by figures: «In 2015–2016, Morocco produced 700 metric tons of cannabis, which is equivalent to 23 % of its gross domestic product (GDP).» And this is true even though the country has officially banned cannabis since 1956.

Furthermore, Morocco and the United States have been long-standing allies since American independence. In 1777, Sultan Mohammed III became the very first head of state to recognize American independence from Great Britain. This U.S.-Moroccan alliance continued when, in 2004, the kingdom was considered to be a «major ally» by Washington.

In the United States, the Medical cannabis is legal in 35 of the 50 states. Now that the Moroccan government is preparing to legalize production for therapeutic purposes, there is no doubt that American manufacturers want to buy the «kif» of the millennium. According to historians, The Rif region has reportedly been producing it since the 15th century.