Cannabis Laws in Morocco
Recreational cannabis remains illegal; limited legal cultivation permitted under strict licensing since 2021.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check current rules with official sources or a lawyer.
Morocco has a split system: recreational cannabis is strictly illegal with real prison time for possession, but since 2021 the government licenses cultivation for medical, cosmetic, and industrial export. Despite Morocco's reputation as a hashish source, there are no legal shops, no tourist market, and buying cannabis remains a criminal offense. Foreign visitors and locals face actual prosecution.
Legal status overview
Recreational cannabis — possession, cultivation, sale, and use — remains illegal throughout Morocco. The foundation is the Dahir of 21 May 1974 on suppression of drug-related offenses, which criminalizes possession, use, transport, and trafficking of cannabis and its derivatives [1] Strong evidence.
In July 2021, Morocco enacted Law No. 13-21 on the legal uses of cannabis, which authorizes — under strict government licensing — cultivation, production, transport, processing, marketing, and export of cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes [2] Strong evidence. This law explicitly does not legalize recreational use or create any legal market for consumers.
The result is a two-track system: a small, regulated legal industry for licensed producers and exporters, and a large illegal market that remains subject to prosecution.
Criminal penalties for recreational possession and use
Under the 1974 Dahir, penalties remain in force:
- Personal possession (simple use): 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 substantial fines, depending on scale and circumstances [1] Strong evidence.
- Sales to minors or near schools: Aggravated penalties apply [1] Strong evidence.
Enforcement is uneven. In cannabis-producing regions like the Rif, police may extract bribes rather than file formal charges [3]. However, this inconsistency is not a legal protection. Foreign tourists and Moroccan nationals continue to be arrested, fined, and imprisoned for cannabis offenses, and deportations of foreign nationals are routine [3].
Law 13-21: The 2021 legalization framework
Passed by parliament in May 2021 and published in the Official Bulletin in July 2021, Law 13-21 created Morocco's legal cannabis sector [2] Strong evidence. Key provisions:
Regulatory body: Creates ANRAC (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités relatives au Cannabis), the sole licensing authority for all legal activities.
Geographic restriction: Legal cultivation is permitted only in three northern provinces historically known for kif production: Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate. The Interior Ministry may add other provinces by decree, but as of October 2026 no expansions have been announced.
Cooperative structure: Growers must join licensed cooperatives; these cooperatives are the sole legal sellers to approved processors. Private retail sale remains prohibited.
THC caps: Licensed cultivation is restricted to varieties with capped THC content. High-THC drug cannabis remains prohibited outside narrow medical and pharmaceutical channels [2] Strong evidence.
Import and export: The law authorizes import of seeds and export of finished products (oils, extracts, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals) under ANRAC approval [2] Strong evidence.
First harvest and production: The first legal harvest occurred in 2023. By 2024, ANRAC had issued thousands of cultivation permits, and several licensed producers began exporting medical and cosmetic cannabis products to European markets [4].
Important information for travelers
Buying, possessing, or smoking cannabis in Morocco is illegal and can result in arrest, fines, imprisonment, and deportation. This applies to tourists as much as to residents. There are no legal dispensaries, coffeeshops, or retail sales of cannabis flower or hashish anywhere in Morocco Strong evidence.
A well-documented scam in the Rif region involves locals offering tours of hash farms, followed by police intervention and demands for bribes or fines [3]. Foreign consulates regularly warn travelers against these offers. In addition to the risk of financial extortion, visitors have been arrested and deported for such encounters. Many travelers have also faced formal prosecution: arrest, fines of hundreds to thousands of dirhams, and imprisonment before deportation [3].
The 2021 law does not create any exception or legal route for recreational or tourist consumption.
Medical cannabis access for patients
Law 13-21 authorizes pharmaceutical cannabis products, but as of October 2026 a fully operational domestic medical prescription and dispensing system remains incomplete. Implementing regulations governing how patients access prescribed cannabis-based medicines, how pharmacies stock and dispense them, and how reimbursement works are still being finalized by the Ministry of Health in coordination with ANRAC Weak / limited.
Most early licensed production has been oriented toward export rather than serving Moroccan patients. If you are a Moroccan patient seeking cannabis-based medicine, consult a licensed physician and pharmacist about any currently registered pharmaceutical products. Self-medication with informal hashish is illegal regardless of claimed medical intent.
Historical context
Cannabis ('kif') has been cultivated in the Rif mountains for centuries, particularly among Berber communities. During the French and Spanish protectorates, cultivation was nominally restricted but tolerated in certain Rif tribes as a regional income source. After independence in 1956, Morocco formally prohibited cannabis in the 1974 Dahir, while de facto tolerating continued production in the Rif.
By the early 2000s, UNODC surveys estimated Morocco accounted for a significant share of the hashish consumed in Europe, with cultivation covering an estimated 134,000 hectares at its 2003 peak. Subsequent cultivation has declined due to a combination of factors: increased pressure from European governments and treaty obligations, the growth of domestic cannabis cultivation in Europe itself, and chronic economic distress in the Rif.
The 2021 shift toward partial legalization reflected an attempt by the Moroccan government to formalize and regulate the existing industry, capture tax revenue, meet international anti-trafficking commitments, and provide an alternative livelihood to kif farmers. However, the transition remains gradual and incomplete.
Not legal advice
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Cannabis laws in Morocco change, enforcement varies by region and circumstance, and individual cases differ. If you face a legal question or criminal matter involving cannabis in Morocco, consult a licensed Moroccan attorney immediately.
Information last verified: October 2026. Confirm all penalties, ANRAC regulations, and current provincial restrictions directly with official Moroccan government sources before relying on this article.
Sources
- Government Royaume du Maroc. Dahir n° 1-73-282 du 28 rabii II 1394 (21 mai 1974) relatif à la répression de la toxicomanie et à la prévention des toxicomanes. Bulletin Officiel.
- Government Royaume du Maroc. Loi n° 13-21 relative aux usages licites du cannabis, promulguée par le Dahir n° 1-21-71 du 22 juillet 2021. Bulletin Officiel n° 7010.
- Reported Alami, Aida. 'Morocco's Cannabis Farmers Hope Legalization Will Bring Relief.' The New York Times, 5 June 2021.
- Reported Reuters. 'Morocco's legal cannabis output jumps as growers shift from illicit market.' 2024.
How this page was made
Generation history
Drafted with AI assistance and checked by a separate automated fact-check pass. Not every article has been read by a person. See how articles are made.
Related
- Cannabis Laws in Greece — Recreational use is criminal; medical cannabis licensed since 2018; hemp follows EU framew...
- Cannabis Laws in Mexico — Personal use decriminalized via court rulings; medical legal since 2017; no recreational m...
- UN Drug Treaties and Cannabis — Three UN treaties control cannabis globally; legalization exists despite treaty language f...