Morocco Ranks Among Top 20 Countries for Cannabis Use

Tuesday 09 January 2024 - 10:16

Morocco claims the 15th position on the list with an 11.1% prevalence of cannabis use among adults, according to a recent report by the finance website Insider Monkey, which ranks the top 20 countries with the highest cannabis consumption.

The report, drawing data from various statistics and sources, including the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, highlights that Moroccans have been cultivating cannabis for centuries. This longstanding practice has earned the North African country a prominent place among the world's leading producers of hashish.

Furthermore, the report notes Morocco's pivotal decision in 2021 to legalize the medical and industrial use of cannabis, aligning itself with a growing list of African countries that approve cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Morocco emphasizes that this move is part of broader efforts to ensure regulated cannabis use in industrial sectors while simultaneously cracking down on illegal activities.

Last fall, the Moroccan state issued the initial ten permits for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation, as well as for export, according to the report.

However, Morocco's security services have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking across the country. In the previous year, security operations resulted in 99,513 drug-related cases and the arrest of 130,212 individuals, including 305 foreigners on charges of drug trafficking. The police confiscated 81 tonnes and 175 kg of cannabis, representing a 17% decrease from the previous year.

Despite these efforts, drug trafficking continues to present significant challenges. In 2019, over 800,000 Moroccans were reported to be addicted to cannabis, with experts believing the actual number is likely much higher. A 2018 Health Ministry report identified a 4.1% prevalence of drug use among those 15 and older, translating to around 800,000 people, of whom 2.8% were addicted.

The report issues a warning that drug use is on the rise among the youth, with associated consequences such as social marginalization, health issues, and engagement in criminal activities.

Insider Monkey's ranking places Israel, Jamaica, the United States, Chile, and Canada in the top 5 countries for cannabis use. In Africa, Nigeria secured the 13th position, while Madagascar and Zambia also made it into the top 20.