Morocco granted 3,371 cannabis-related licenses in 2024, a sharp increase from 430 issued in 2023, underscoring the rapid formalization of its legal cannabis industry as Ghana prepares to operationalize its own regulated framework.
The figures were released by the country’s National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities following a board meeting in Rabat reviewing technical and financial performance for the year and outlining priorities for 2025.
Of the total licenses issued, 3,056 were for cultivation and production, benefiting 2,907 farmers. Another 315 licenses were granted to 158 operators across processing, marketing, export, seed import and transport. The expansion reflects Morocco’s effort to build a fully integrated value chain beyond raw farming.
Legal cannabis output reached 4,082.4 tons in 2024, cultivated on 2,169 hectares by 2,647 farmers organized into 189 cooperatives. The local “Beldia” variety accounted for 2,786.7 tons, while imported strains produced 1,295.7 tons, with higher yields per hectare. The regulator said compliance monitoring confirmed adherence to legal standards across licensed operations, pointing to increasing sector maturity and structured oversight.
For Ghana, which is preparing to operationalize its industrial and medicinal cannabis framework, Morocco’s licensing surge offers a reference point but not necessarily a template. Ghana’s regulatory system remains in its early stages, with licensing fees and operational guidelines still being finalized. Production is restricted to industrial hemp containing no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol and limited to medical and industrial applications. Recreational use remains prohibited.
Unlike Morocco’s rapid expansion anchored in traditional cultivation regions and cooperative structures, Ghana’s rollout is expected to begin with tighter entry controls and potentially higher capital thresholds. Industry participants have suggested that licensing fees could range from $5,000 to $42,000 depending on activity type, a structure that may initially limit participation to well-capitalized operators.
While Morocco’s 2024 data reflect a broad-based licensing drive integrating thousands of farmers, Ghana’s initial phase is likely to prioritize compliance, traceability and export standards before scaling production volumes.
Whether Ghana eventually reaches comparable licensing volumes will depend on regulatory clarity, financing access, export market penetration and the government’s approach to integrating smallholder farmers into the formal system.
