Morocco's Cannabis Legalization: Farmers Transition, Black Market Persists

• Morocco is expanding legal cannabis cultivation to integrate farmers into the formal economy and tap into the global market.
• The country legalized certain forms of cannabis cultivation in 2021, focusing on medicinal and industrial uses under tight regulation.
• Farmers who previously grew illegally are now part of the legal system, selling to cooperatives for products like CBD oil and industrial hemp.
• Despite issuing licenses to over 3,371 growers, the legal market remains significantly smaller than the vast illegal cultivation.

Why It Matters: Morocco's cannabis legalization reshapes farmer livelihoods and global markets.