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Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco’s legal cannabis industry recorded significant progress in 2025, with rising production, more licenses issued, and expanding international reach, according to the head of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC).
Speaking to the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), the agency’s Director General Mohamed El Guerrouj said total production of dried cannabis reached 19,576 quintals in 2025, up from 18,810 quintals in 2024. This increase reflects what he described as a “qualitative leap” in the sector’s development.
The agency issued 4,147 new licenses last year, bringing the total number of active permits to 5,765 for the 2025 season. Most of these licenses, 5,492, were for cultivation, benefiting 5,318 farmers. The remaining 273 licenses covered processing, marketing, export, seed import, and transport activities, involving 183 operators.
El Guerrouj stated that licenses are only granted under strict legal conditions. Farmers must sign formal purchase contracts with licensed operators before starting production. These contracts clearly define pricing and payment methods to protect both producers and investors, he said.
The total cultivated area reached nearly 3,141 hectares in 2025, managed by 4,776 farmers. Of this, 2,622 hectares were dedicated to the local cannabis variety known as “Beldia,” while 519 hectares were used for imported strains.
Five operators built and equipped cannabis processing factories last year, with a combined capacity of 560 tons. An additional 11 factories are currently under construction. Authorities also focused on improving market access, leading to Moroccan cannabis products being sold in more than 600 licensed retail points.
A total of 110 cannabis-based products were registered in 2025 with the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMMPS). These included 50 dietary supplements, 59 cosmetic products, and one medicine. This brings the total number of approved products on the market to 141.
Morocco’s cannabis products are also gaining ground internationally. They are now present in more than seven countries, including France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, Australia, and South Africa. The agency supported this expansion through promotional missions to several European capitals, he said.
Despite this growth, authorities maintained strict oversight. The agency carried out 7,526 inspections last year. These led to the withdrawal of 111 licenses from 90 operators, warnings for the possible withdrawal of 150 licenses from 85 operators, and the removal of 1,308 agricultural licenses from 1,217 farmers.
Morocco is one of the world’s largest producers of cannabis, traditionally grown in the northern Rif region. Most of this activity operated informally for decades.
The country legalized cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial use in 2021. The reform aimed to improve farmers’ livelihoods, reduce illegal trafficking, and attract investment into a regulated market.
Under the new system, farmers must join cooperatives and work with licensed companies. The state closely monitors all stages of production, processing, and distribution to ensure compliance with the law.
