Rabat – The government of Morocco, one of the world’s largest producers of cannabis, has said remarks from artist El Grande Toto about the common use of cannabis are “unacceptable.”
Spokesperson for the Moroccan government Mustapha Baitas addressed the controversy surrounding statements made by Moroccan rapper Taha Fahssi – known by El Grande Toto – saying that “the government rejects such behavior and considers it to be unacceptable.”
Toto has been under fire for speaking in support of normalizing the use of weed during a press conference, which was part of the Rabat African Capital Festival. He also used swear words during his musical performance at the festival.
“We cannot, in any way, accept or normalize” this behavior, Baitas stressed, adding that the Moroccan government will take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
Baitas added that the government will “talk” to the “concerned minister” about the matter, referring to the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mehdi Bensaid.
The government spokesperson made the statements on Thursday during a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting in Rabat.
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He noted that such behavior goes against the values and principles of Moroccans. Baitas noted that “Moroccans have the right to enjoy the public space, alongside their families and children in an atmosphere of respect and adherence to public morals.”
Earlier this week, the Moroccan political party Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) condemned Toto’s statements and directed a written question to Bensaid regarding his ministry’s criteria for selecting material and people present at their cultural events.
Many Moroccan social media users criticized the rapper’s comments and considered them to be deeply offensive. Others meanwhile argued that one cannot ignore that weed consumption is extremely common in Morocco, a country that supplies 70% of Europe’s vast cannabis market.
“We don’t go very far to get weed, it’s just around the corner,” El Grande Toto said at the festival, pointing out that some of the world’s largest weed-producing regions are only “300 kilometers away.” He added, “We smoke weed, and so what?!”
In March 2022, Morocco legalized medical and therapeutic cannabis for export, yet continues its internal prosecution of cannabis for recreational use, the most common and profitable use of the popular herbal substance.
