Cannabis Laws in Morocco

Legal status at a glance

Recreational cannabis — possession, cultivation, sale, and use — remains illegal in Morocco. The governing penal framework derives from the Dahir of 21 May 1974 on the suppression of drug-related offenses, which criminalizes possession, use, transport, and trafficking of cannabis and its derivatives ^[1] Strong evidence.

In 2021, Morocco enacted Law No. 13-21 on the legal uses of cannabis, which authorizes — under strict licensing — cultivation, production, transport, processing, marketing, and export of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes ^[2] Strong evidence. The law explicitly does not legalize recreational use.

This creates a two-track system: a small, licensed legal industry overseen by a new regulator, and a large, persistent illegal market that is still prosecuted.

Penalties for recreational use and possession

Under the 1974 Dahir, as still applied:

• Personal use / simple possession: 2 months to 1 year imprisonment plus a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams ^[1] Strong evidence.
• Cultivation, production, or trafficking: 10 to 30 years imprisonment plus heavy fines for serious cases.
• Selling to minors or in/near schools: aggravated penalties.

In practice, enforcement against personal users — especially foreign tourists in cannabis-producing regions like the Rif — is inconsistent. Police and local intermediaries are sometimes reported to extract bribes rather than file charges ^[3][evidence:reported]. This is not a legal protection. Tourists have been arrested, fined, and deported, and Moroccan nationals continue to be incarcerated for cannabis offenses in large numbers ^[3][evidence:reported].

The 2021 legalization (Law 13-21)

Law 13-21 was passed by parliament in May 2021 and published in the Official Bulletin in July 2021 ^[2] Strong evidence. Key features:

• Creates ANRAC (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités relatives au Cannabis), the sole licensing and regulatory authority ^[4][evidence:government].
• Restricts legal cultivation to three northern provinces with historic kif production: Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate. Other provinces may be added by decree.
• Requires growers to join licensed cooperatives that sell exclusively to approved processors.
• Caps THC content for cultivated varieties; high-THC drug cannabis remains prohibited outside narrow medical/pharmaceutical channels.
• Authorizes import of seeds and export of finished products under license.

The first legal harvest took place in 2023. ANRAC reported issuing several thousand cultivation permits by 2023–2024, and the first exports of medical and cosmetic cannabis products began shipping to European markets ^[5][evidence:reported].

Tourists and travelers

Despite Morocco's reputation as a hashish source, buying, possessing, or smoking cannabis as a tourist is illegal and can result in arrest, fines, prison, and deportation ^[3][evidence:reported]. Common scams in the Rif region include offers to tour hash farms followed by police intervention and demands for cash ^[3][evidence:reported]. Foreign consulates routinely warn against these offers.

The 2021 law does not create any tourist-facing legal market. There are no dispensaries, no coffeeshops, and no licensed retail sale of cannabis flower or hashish for recreational consumption anywhere in Morocco. Strong evidence

Historical context

Cannabis ('kif') has been cultivated in the Rif mountains for centuries. Under the French and Spanish protectorates, cultivation was restricted but tolerated in specific Rif tribes. After independence in 1956, Morocco formally prohibited cannabis in 1956 and again in 1974, while de facto tolerating production in the Rif as a regional economic safety valve ^[6][evidence:book].

UNODC surveys in the 2000s estimated Morocco supplied a large share of hashish consumed in Europe, with cultivation covering roughly 134,000 hectares at its 2003 peak before declining ^[7][evidence:government]. Pressure from European partners, the development of domestic European cultivation, and economic distress in the Rif drove the policy shift toward partial legalization.

Medical cannabis access for patients

As of the last verification date, a functioning domestic medical cannabis prescription system for Moroccan patients is not yet fully operational. Law 13-21 authorizes pharmaceutical products derived from cannabis, but the implementing regulations governing prescription, pharmacy dispensing, and reimbursement were still being rolled out ^[4][evidence:government] Weak / limited. Most early production has been oriented toward export rather than domestic patient supply.

Patients seeking cannabis-based medicines in Morocco should consult a licensed physician and pharmacist about currently registered products. Self-medication with informal hashish remains illegal regardless of medical intent.

Not legal advice

This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Drug laws change, enforcement varies by region and over time, and individual circumstances matter. If you face a legal question involving cannabis in Morocco, consult a licensed Moroccan attorney. Information last verified: June 2024. Confirm current statutes and ANRAC regulations before relying on anything written here.

Sources

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