Morocco: Cultivation for medicinal purposes started this week

The Kingdom of Morocco is witnessing the first legal cannabis cultivation for medicinal purposes this week. The cultivation of the first farms in the province of Taounate, in the north of the country, was attended by representatives of various government departments.

The cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes thus took the first step, with farmers starting cultivation, after entities interested in investing in the country formalized this intention, through the signing of agreements for production. The agreements were signed between the investors and the National Agency for the Legalization of Cannabis Related Activities (ANRAC), which issues licenses for cultivation.

However, the companies also sign agreements with public authorities, cooperatives and farmers licensed by the agency in each of the regions of Chefchaouen and Al Hoceima. Representatives of various government departments witnessed the legal cultivation of the first cannabis seeds in the Taounate region, inside covered nurseries, according to the Morocco World News publication.

The agreements provide farmers with seeds and technical support at the germination stage. Farmers are also provided with suitable agricultural consumables such as fertilizers and plant protection products at reasonable prices. In addition, the contracts stipulate the purchase of the product at the price previously agreed by the farmers and the availability of adequate means of transport, so that the product arrives at the evaluation unit in transportable conditions, in order to preserve the quality.

The law that regulates cannabis cultivation provides for the granting of licenses for nine activities, including production and cultivation, production and exploitation of seedlings, import of seeds and seedlings or export of seeds and seedlings. These are allegedly activities carried out by individuals, not companies. Other activities such as processing, transport, marketing, export and import of cannabis products will be carried out by companies.