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Morocco is betting that legal cannabis can turn a centuries-old shadow economy into a regulated growth sector, offering farmers stability without fear of arrest. Since legalization began in 2021, veteran growers in the Rif Mountains have started selling to licensed cooperatives that produce cannabis for medical and industrial use. The shift promises jobs, investment, and formal income streams, supported by strict state oversight and reinforced by royal pardons for thousands of farmers. Yet the transition is far from complete. Legal production remains small compared with the vast illegal market, payment delays have sparked protests, and many growers still depend on illicit networks. Morocco’s ambitious challenge is to scale this legal ecosystem without leaving behind the hundreds of thousands who still depend on the illegal industry.
AP