Morocco: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

16th April 2024: Morocco: The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued decision 605.24, which stipulates the format of the logo for locally produced cannabis products. Failure to comply with the labelling criteria will result in a fine of between MAD5,000 ($492.11) and MAD50,000 ($4,921.17), according to royal decree 1.21.59/2021 on cannabis control.
8th January 2024: Morocco: The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac) has reported that for the year 2023 it granted 609 authorisations out of 1,063 processed applications for the legal production of cannabis, press reports. The authorisations include 430 for cultivation, 47 for industrial use, 7 for medical purposes, 51 for marketing, 54 for export, 17 for seed import, and 3 for transportation activities.
18th May 2023: Morocco: The parliamentary Social Sectors Committee has held a meeting with the Economic, Social and Environmental Council on addiction and ways to combat it. The meeting recommended decriminalising possession of cannabis by individuals over 25. MP Mustafa Ibrahimine of the Justice and Development Party said in an interview that his party strongly opposed a move which he said would promote drug use and increase addiction. It is currently illegal in Morocco to buy, use or sell cannabis for recreational purposes.
27th April 2023: Morocco: The Customs and Excise Administration has issued a circular on the import and export of cannabis seeds. Imported seeds must be labelled with a number showing authorisation by the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac), the batch number, the plant variety, and the THC level. Currently, there is no catalogue of varieties allowed for cultivation in Morocco, and importing seeds is subject to a licence from the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) as well as Anrac authorisation.
13th March 2023: Morocco: The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac) has called for tenders to develop a medium- and long-term strategic plan for the cannabis sector, press reports. This will include a detailed analysis of the development of the legal cannabis sector at the national level, a detailed market analysis of the international medical and industrial cannabis sector, and a detailed strategic plan for the development of the legal framework of the cannabis sector on a national level.
10th March 2023: Morocco: The first licence to import cannabis seeds was issued this week to a local cooperative in Chefchaouen, press reports. Importing seeds to Morocco currently requires a licence from the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) and the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac).
7th March 2023: Morocco: Citizen co-op Coopérative Biocannat has announced that it has opened its laboratory for industrial, medical and paramedical uses of cannabis, reportedly becoming the first lab devoted to this activity in Morocco and the Arab region in general. The laboratory in the city of Chefchaouen gained a licence in October from the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac) to manufacture, market and export cannabis and cannabis products.
7th December 2022: Morocco: Mohammed El-Krouj, director general of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities, told press that the agency intends to embark on a training programme for cannabis farmers before the end of December to prepare them for the first growing season since the legalisation of hemp – defined as cannabis with 1% THC or less. Farmers will be trained in growing, cultivating, watering, collecting, drying, and all other farming activities related to cannabis.
21st November 2022: Morocco: Mohammed El Guerrouj, director general of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities, made his first media appearance, announcing that "the agency is currently aiming at developing a traceability system to improve tracking and monitoring of cannabis use and limit illegal activities". He stated that this will be achieved through the launch of a digital platform for issuing licences, which will facilitate tracking the entire process, from cultivation to manufacturing to import to export.
5th October 2022: Morocco: The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac) announced yesterday that it had issued ten licences for the cultivation, manufacturing, marketing, and export of cannabis products, press reports. The agency said it “continues to explore the opportunities offered by the cannabis market in order to develop this sector and promote the transformation of farmers from illicit activity towards legal, sustainable and income-generating cultivation”.
3rd October 2022: Morocco: The prime minister's cabinet has issued Decree No. 3.92\22, appointing Mohamed El Guerrouj as interim general director of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (Anrac). El Guerrouj will serve as the first director of the newly formed agency, which began operations in June, and is responsible for overseeing the legal cultivation of cannabis for medical and commercial purposes, the supply chain of cannabis from acquiring seeds to export, as well as marketing of the product.
3rd June 2022: Morocco: Morocco has launched a regulatory agency, the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities, to oversee the production and use of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial purposes following the passage of a 2021 law allowing such activities, press reports. The agency is tasked with issuing licences and overseeing all parts of industry, including importation of seeds and marketing of products. The agency met for the first time on Thursday, signalling a significant step towards establishing a legal cannabis industry in the country.

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