Morocco’s National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) processed and granted 2,905 authorizations out of a total 2,942 requests, as of April 23rd, compared to 609 approved last November.
2,737 authorizations were granted to 2,637 farmers in the regions of Taounate, Chefchaouen and Al Hoceima for the cultivation and production of cannabis, compared with only 430 authorizations granted in 2023. 61 operators (1 pharmaceutical establishment, 16 cooperatives, 37 companies and 7 individuals) received 168 authorizations.
Out of the 168 licenses granted to operators, in addition to the 179 issued in 2023, 48 licenses were for industrial use, one was for processing for medical purposes, 45 were for marketing, 39 for export, seven for seed imports, and 28 for transport.
ANRAC reported that Morocco’s food safety watchdog (ONSSA) has granted 73 authorizations to use Beldia seed covering an area of 1,262 hectares to 73 production cooperatives (1,225 farmers) and 11 import authorizations covering an area of 286 hectares to 22 production cooperatives (285 farmers).
As of April 23, the surface area sown by cannabis in Taounate, Chefchaouen and Al Houceima was 757 hectares for Beldia seed (903 farmers). 42 cannabis products were manufactured from legally grown cannabis in 2023, registered with the Ministry of Health’s Department of Medicines and Pharmaceuticals (DMP) by three operators and a processing cooperative.
These include 11 cosmetics and personal care products and 31 food supplements.
The Ministry of Health has issued seven registration certificates, two for dietary supplements (herbal teas) and five for cosmetics and personal hygiene products. The other products currently being examined by the DMP will shortly receive registration certificates.
On April 23, 2024, one operator and one cooperative exported 65.5 kg of cannabis products to Switzerland (55.5 kg of CBD resin with a THC content of less than 1% and 10 kg of cannabis flowers with a THC content of less than 0.3%).
Another export of 30 kg of CBD resin with a THC content of less than 1% is in the final stages of the export procedure.
ANRAC, established pursuant to Statute No. 13-21, regulates the legal production and use of cannabis and implements the State’s strategy with respect to cannabis cultivation, production, manufacture, processing, marketing, export, and import of products for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial purposes.