Ahmad 
Moroccan farmer Abdel Salam Ishou has been growing cannabis legally for the second year in a row, thanks to new legislation passed in Morocco in 2021.
The legislation allows cannabis to be grown for medical and industrial purposes and represents a major shift in the cultivation of this plant in northern Morocco.
Abdel Salam, who lives in the village of Mansoura in the Chefchaouen province, expressed his happiness with the legal decision, saying: “I never imagined that we would be able to grow cannabis without fear of arrest, theft, or not being able to sell the crop.”
Prior to these legislations, cannabis cultivation had been illegal since 1954, leaving farmers living in a state of constant tension.
The Rif region in northern Morocco is one of the largest producers of cannabis in the world, where illegal cultivation provided a major source of income for many families, but after the introduction of the new legislation, cannabis can now be grown legally in three provinces within the Rif region, contributing to improving the economic and social situation of farmers.
Last year, the total legal cannabis crop reached 296 tons, according to the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities.
This crop differs from previous ones in that it contains a very low percentage of the narcotic substance (THC), making it suitable for medical and industrial uses rather than being processed into hashish.
Abdeslam boasts a record crop of eight tons from a one-hectare field, which he sold to a Moroccan company at a rate of 80 dirhams per kilogram (about $8).
This success reflects the positive impact of new legislation aimed at combating drug trafficking and promoting economic development in rural areas.
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