Morocco considering legalizing medicinal cannabis for therapeutic use
February 26, 2021, 11:09 am

Morocco considering legalizing medicinal cannabis for therapeutic use

A farmer guards his plantation of cannabis near Chefchaouen, March 27, 2008. (Reuters)

Morocco, a country where large volumes of cannabis are grown illicitly, is considering legalizing production for therapeutic use of the drug, the government said Thursday.

The government has “begun to study a legislative bill relating to the legal use of cannabis,” it said in a statement.

The draft text, seen by AFP, envisages the creation of a “national agency to regulate activities linked to cannabis.”

The agency will be mandated to develop an agricultural and industrial framework in regions that will be authorized to produce the crop, the bill states.

The growing, sale and consumption of cannabis are currently strictly forbidden.

A villager stands in a field of cannabis near the town of Ketama in Morocco's northern Rif region on September 2, 2019. (AFP)

But usage is largely tolerated in the north, where the livelihoods of between 90,000 and 140,000 people is estimated to depend on illicit production.

Current cannabis output in Morocco is estimated at more than 700 tonnes, in a 2020 study by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Legally produced quantities must not surpass the volume “required for production of a medical, pharmaceutical and industrial nature,” the bill adds.

Growers would have to be part of agricultural cooperatives and would supply only authorized firms, it envisages.

Legalizing the therapeutic use of cannabis will position Morocco in a global market that is growing at an annual rate of 30 percent, and 60 percent in Europe, according to a note by the interior ministry.

Legislation and regulation will also improve farmers’ living conditions and protect them from “drug trafficking networks,” that note added.

source: AFP

Image source: Reuters

Levant

Iran says it’s investigating deadly incident on Pakistan border Russia's Lavrov says US gave Russia several minutes of warning prior to Syria strike

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”