Legal use of cannabis: 2,905 licenses issued until April 23, compared to 609 in 2023 (ANRAC)

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 10:51 PM

Rabat – The National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) has granted 2,905 licenses up to April 23 out of a total of 2,942 applications examined in 2024, compared to 609 licenses in 2023, for a total area of ​​2,552 hectares (286 hectares in 2023) .

According to ANRAC data, 2,737 permits have been granted to 2,637 farmers in the regions of Taounate, Chefchaouen and Al Hoceima, for the activity of growing and producing cannabis, compared to 430 permits granted in 2023 and 168 permits to 61 operators (1 pharmaceutical branch). , 16 cooperatives, 37 companies and 7 private individuals).

The 168 permits granted to operators, which will be added to the 179 issued in 2023, are divided into 48 permits for industrial purposes, one (01) for the processing activity for medical purposes, 45 for the marketing activity, 39 for export purposes, 7 for seed import purposes and 28 for transportation activities, specifies the same source.

ANRAC reports the granting by the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) of 73 permits to use Beldia seed for an area of ​​1,262 Ha in favor of 73 production cooperatives (1,225 farmers) and 11 import permits for an area of ​​286 Ha in favor of 22 production cooperatives (285 farmers).

As of April 23, the areas sown with cannabis in Taounate, Chefchaouen and Al Houceima amounted to 757 ha for Beldia seed (903 farmers), the Agency notes, specifying that as of 2023, 42 cannabis products have been produced from legal production and submitted for registration to the Medicines and Pharmacy Directorate (DMP) of the Ministry of Health by three operators and a processing cooperative.

This includes 11 cosmetic and personal hygiene products and 31 nutritional supplements.

Also, as of April 23, 2024, the Ministry of Health has issued seven registration certificates, two of which concern nutritional supplements (herbal teas) and five cosmetic and personal hygiene products, knowing that the other products currently under investigation by the DMP will also . soon benefit from registration certificates, the same source would like to specify.

Similarly, on April 23, 2024, an operator and a cooperative exported 65.5 kg of cannabis products to Switzerland (55.5 kg of CBD resin with a THC content of less than 1% and 10 kg of cannabis flowers with a THC content content content of less than 0.3%).

Another export operation of 30 kg of CBD resin with a THC content of less than 1% is in the final stages of completing the export procedure, according to ANRAC.

ANRAC was established under the provisions of Law No. 13-21 regarding the legal use of cannabis and ensures the implementation of the state strategy in the field of cultivation, production, production, processing, marketing, export of cannabis and import of its products for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes.

The Agency is responsible for ensuring that the status of cannabis stocks is maintained and for providing the assessments and information to the competent international body as requested in accordance with the Kingdom’s international obligations. It also oversees the procedures for licensing national and international operators in the medical and industrial cannabis industry, seed companies, nurseries, transport companies, in addition to the creation of the first cooperatives for the processing and industrialization of local products whose members are members local farmers.

ANRAC is also responsible for supporting research into the use of cannabis in the medical, cosmetic and industrial fields, in addition to the simplification of administrative procedures in coordination with the administrative authorities concerned, as well as the orientation of illegal activities towards legal, sustainable activities. and income generating.