Although discussions about legalization have been taboo, there has been an increase in recent debates and support. Some advocate for controlled legalization as a solution to combat the black market and generate tax revenue, while others warn of potential risks.
Morocco finds itself at a crucial crossroads, attempting to balance the preservation of its cultural heritage with the need to address the social challenges associated with cannabis consumption. How the country handles this issue will not only affect the Rif region but also influence global perceptions of Morocco and its position on the international stage.
The cultivation of Beldia will be subject to strict conditions, with the extension depending on the results of tests and biological analyses, according to informed sources. The agricultural cooperative founded by Adbib in Kétama, composed of thirty farmers, has received the first authorizations from the ANRAC after years of clandestinity and marginalization.
In the northern region, where legal cannabis cultivation has been authorized, the ANRAC has established three centers dedicated to the cultivation, collection, and processing of cannabis in the areas of Chefchaouen, Taunat, and Alhucemas. The Alhucemas region will be home to Beldia cultivation, with plans for a processing unit in Kétama.
It is relevant to highlight that the legal cannabis currently cultivated and processed in these areas is based on foreign seeds and imported plants, as emphasized by Adbib. The cooperative plans to start the planting campaign this March and establish its own processing unit in the coming months, under the scrutiny of the ANRAC.
Abdellatif Adbib, 65, had also advocated before UN authorities for the therapeutic effects of the plant in the context of regulated use. With a THC content of less than 1%, the main psychoactive substance, the specific Moroccan Beldia has the potential to be legally cultivated for industrial use, benefiting farmers and the regional economy.
The approval of legal Beldia cultivation in Morocco marks a significant change in cannabis regulation in the country, opening up new opportunities in key industrial
