Morocco seeks to legalise cannabis for medical use
Farmers look forward to coming out of hiding and selling their hashish on the open market.
JOHANNESBURG, April 21 (ANA) – Morocco plans to legalise cannabis for medical purposes, according to news agencies.
Citing AFP, Africanews reported on Wednesday that last month the government drafted a bill that parliament was expected to debate this week.
AFP quoted a farmer, Mohamed Morabet, who said he looked forward to selling his hashish this summer on the open market.
“We will finally come out of clandestinity. We used to live in fear,” said the 60-year-old.
Cannabis was banned in Morocco in 1954 but has been tolerated as its cultivation provides a livelihood for 80,000 to 120,000 families, according to unofficial estimates, reported AFP.
On March 25, The Africa Report revealed that the bill was approved on March 11 and submitted for parliamentary approval.
According to the interior ministry headed by Abdelouafi Laftit, the aim is not only to gain access to the global legal cannabis market, but also to improve farmers’ incomes and protect them from drug-trafficking syndicates in the North African country.
According to an article by Morocco World News dated March 8, the draft bill aims to regulate legal activities related to cannabis cultivation, production, manufacture, transport, and exchange with other countries.
Authorities have set a list of sanctions for the non-compliance by various operators.
In February, Middle East Eye reported that Morocco had reduced the amount of land where cannabis is cultivated from 134,000 hectares in 2003 to 47,000ha six years ago, according to the interior ministry.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher