Morocco’s cannabis trade, deeply rooted in the Rif Mountains, has long been an open secret. It is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but one that operates outside the law, feeding global criminal networks and perpetuating human suffering. Despite periodic crackdowns and official denials, cannabis cultivation is widespread, and Morocco remains one of the world’s largest producers of hashish.
At the heart of this trade lies a troubling dynamic: the exploitation of undocumented migrant labour. These migrants, many from sub-Saharan Africa, arrive in Morocco hoping to reach Europe. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and coercion, working in harsh conditions in cannabis fields or processing facilities. The same criminal networks that traffic hashish often double as human smugglers, turning the region into a hub for both illicit industries.
The Moroccan government’s stance on cannabis is, at best, conflicted. Officially, the trade is illegal, and occasional raids and arrests are made to satisfy international observers. Yet the scale of production in regions like Ketama suggests a tacit tolerance, if not outright complicity. This ambiguous position allows the trade to flourish while failing to address the deeper socio-economic issues at its core.
Farmers, often living in poverty, rely on cannabis cultivation for survival, while undocumented workers provide the cheap, disposable labour the trade demands. Meanwhile, powerful criminal syndicates reap the real profits, operating with little fear of significant disruption.
Legalising cannabis would fundamentally alter this dynamic. A regulated market would bring transparency to an industry that currently operates in the shadows. Farmers and workers could be integrated into the formal economy, enjoying legal protections and fair wages. Tax revenues from a legal cannabis market could fund infrastructure, education, and healthcare in impoverished areas, addressing the root causes of exploitation.
For the criminal networks, the implications would be profound. Legalisation would undercut their profits by removing their monopoly on cannabis supply. With regulation and oversight, the nexus between drug trafficking and human smuggling could be significantly weakened.
It would also shift the focus of law enforcement. Instead of targeting low-level workers—migrants and small-scale farmers—the authorities could concentrate on dismantling the organised crime networks that profit from the trade.
Cannabis legalisation is not without challenges. It would require robust regulation to prevent new forms of exploitation and ensure the benefits are distributed equitably. Additionally, the international community’s reaction could influence Morocco’s decision, as global markets for legal cannabis are still evolving.
However, the potential benefits are hard to ignore. Legalisation could transform cannabis from a source of corruption and suffering into a driver of rural development and economic growth. It would also give Morocco greater control over an industry that is currently a liability on the world stage.
Cannabis legalisation is not a panacea, but it offers a pragmatic path forward. It addresses the root causes of exploitation while undermining the criminal networks that thrive on prohibition. For Morocco, the question is whether it can afford to continue with the status quo—a system that benefits no one except criminals and corrupt officials.
This is not simply a matter of economic reform but one of social justice. Legalisation would not only regulate a lucrative industry but also offer protection to the vulnerable individuals who currently bear its heaviest burdens. In doing so, Morocco could reclaim control of its cannabis trade, turning it from a source of shame into an opportunity for progress.
Stan Robinson, Reporting from Morocco.
