Morocco has completed its first-ever export of medical cannabis to Australia, marking the Kingdom’s formal debut in the global market for this fast-growing industry.
A 50-kilogram shipment of the locally cultivated Baldiya cannabis strain was dispatched this week, following the delivery of a smaller sample to Australia in June for quality testing.
The milestone comes as Morocco continues to transition from its history as one of the world’s leading producers of illicit cannabis to a regulated and diversified industry.
In 2023, more than 27,000 hectares were dedicated to cannabis cultivation, a significant reduction from the 130,000 hectares recorded in 2003. The change has been driven in part by a 2024 royal pardon that saw 4,831 farmers cleared of previous offences and encouraged to join the legal sector.
Legal plantations have shown sustained growth, with yields reaching 20 quintals per hectare. Average revenues now stand at about 120,000 Moroccan dirhams (€12,000) per hectare, signalling a lucrative future for licensed growers.
This development follows the landmark 2022 legislation that authorised the production and export of cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. The law aims to boost Morocco’s agricultural economy—particularly in the traditional cannabis-producing regions of the north—while enforcing rigorous health and traceability regulations.
By entering regulated markets such as Australia, Morocco is positioning itself as a competitive player in a global industry worth billions of euros, currently dominated by producers in North America and Europe.
Industry experts say the next challenge will be expanding processing and certification infrastructure to meet international quality standards, enabling the Kingdom to secure a larger share of the rising demand—especially in Europe, where interest in medical cannabis is steadily increasing.
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