Rabat – With Morocco’s legalization of the use of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes, Moroccan textile and clothing agents are looking to seize the vast opportunities offered by industrial hemp.
The Moroccan Association of Textile and Apparel Industries (AMITH) presented a new roadmap for the Moroccan textile industry for 2035 on November 30 in Casablanca.
Jalal Skalli, Vice President of AMITH, said that the legalization of cannabis cultivation by Morocco offers an “undeniable opportunity for the Moroccan textile industry.”
Since the adoption of the law governing the licit uses of cannabis for medical, cosmetic and industrial purposes, textile agents have been waiting for the establishment of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis to explore the opportunities offered by hemp, he said.
While the potential of cannabis in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors is often highlighted, hemp cultivation could also significantly benefit the textile industry.
AMITH stressed that in the 19th century, about 75% of the world’s textile was produced from hemp, against 0.5% today.
The use of hemp in textiles will pave the way for creating an ecosystem for the transformation of the plant into fiber, fabric, and yarn while encouraging the Made in Morocco brand by developing a 100% Moroccan product.
Morocco is well-known globally for producing the high quality hashish and related products, but as the use of the plant is still not fully legalized, illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $15 billion.
The 2020 report of the Moroccan Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) indicated that 86% of Moroccans see cannabis legalization as a potential source for the country’s economic development, while 79% believe that its cultivation should be legalized.
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