Morocco's Green Revolution: The Legal Cannabis Boom and Its Challenges
In Morocco's Rif mountains, cannabis farmers like Abderrahman Talbi embrace the burgeoning legal industry. Morocco's legalization of cannabis for medical and industrial use aims to boost economic revitalization and shift farmers from the black market. Despite progress, challenges remain due to persistent demand for recreational use and legal regulation hurdles.
Under the intense summer sun, Abderrahman Talbi admired the orderly cannabis crops he now legally grows in Morocco's Rif mountains. Once an illegal cultivator, Talbi is among many farmers relieved to operate openly since Morocco legalized cannabis for medical and industrial purposes in 2022.
Morocco's legalization move sought to transform the country's cannabis industry, shifting from unauthorized production to regulated cultivation, with hopes of economic upliftment for the impoverished Rif region. But, the deeply rooted black market, mainly driven by recreational demand from Europe and Africa, presents challenges to full regulatory control.
Legal cannabis farming has expanded significantly, with 5,000 farmers now involved. Yet, bureaucratic hurdles and attractive black market profits deter many from transitioning. While legal pathways aimed to sideline the illegal cultivation, the sector still contends with major hurdles. Legalizing recreational use is considered a long-term goal under medical frameworks.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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