Is cannabis legal in Morocco?

No, cannabis is not legal in Morocco if you intend to consume it. The land of kif and Ketama hashish did indeed legalize the plant in 2021, but only as a raw material for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. Legal cannabis in Morocco is therefore a licensed agricultural sector, not a joint on a terrace in Chefchaouen. At Tealer420, we receive messages every summer from people convinced that "it's tolerated there." That is not the case, and cannabis in Morocco can turn a trip into police custody. We'll explain why.

What you risk if you smoke locally

The law that applies to consumers dates back to May 21, 1974. It is a decree (dahir) on drug addiction, and the 2021 legalization did not change it. It applies to everyone, both residents and visitors.

According to figures corroborated in the Moroccan press (we were unable to consult the official text online during our verification):

• For use: 2 months to 1 year in prison and a fine of 500 to 5,000 dirhams. Prosecution may be suspended if the individual agrees to drug rehabilitation.
• For possession, transport, production, import, or export: 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 500,000 dirhams.

The point that surprises travelers the most: your French passport changes nothing. Consular assistance can support you, but it does not prevent local prosecution.

Chefchaouen, Ketama: visible does not mean tolerated

In the Rif, around Chefchaouen or Ketama, the availability of hashish is so visible that one might eventually believe in official tolerance. There is none.

Accepting what is offered to you on the street remains a criminal offense. The fact that the plant is grown legally under license a few kilometers away does not in any way cover products sold outside the legal circuit.

If you are interested in the history and diversity of Rif hashish, we covered them in our article on varieties of Moroccan hashish. That is the only way to discover them without risk.

Legal cannabis in Morocco: Law 13-21 targets growers, not you

Adopted in July 2021, Law 13-21 authorizes 9 licensed activities: cultivation, processing, manufacturing, transport, marketing, import, and export, among others. All must serve medical, pharmaceutical, or industrial purposes. Recreational use is not included.

Regulation is entrusted to ANRAC, which has been operational since 2022. The key rules:

• cultivation limited to Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, and Taounate, with no confirmed expansion to date;
• harvest must be turned over to authorized cooperatives;
• material with more than 1% THC reserved for the pharmaceutical industry;
• potent varieties, including traditional beldia, authorized solely for the medical sector.

Regarding health, the framework exists but remains theoretical for patients: in August 2026, a first cannabis-based medicine was approved without yet being available in pharmacies.

From pardoned growers to cooperatives

This is the most surprising chapter of recent history. On August 19, 2024, the day of the Revolution of the King and the People, Mohammed VI pardoned 4,831 people who were convicted, prosecuted, or wanted for cannabis cultivation. The stated goal: to bring them into the legal sector rather than leaving them in illegality.

And the sector has grown quickly:

• in 2023, the first legal harvest yielded 294 tons, produced by 430 farmers and 32 cooperatives on 277 hectares;
• in 2024, 2,169 hectares were sown;
• in 2025, that grew to 4,751 hectares, 5,493 farmers, 366 cooperatives, and 19,576 quintals of dry matter.

At the end of 2025, ANRAC recorded 5,765 active authorizations. It does not hesitate to crack down: out of 7,526 inspections conducted, 111 authorizations were revoked among 90 operators. Morocco is now the most advanced case on the continent, as we show in our overview of legal cannabis in Africa.

And what about CBD?

Yes, but not like in France. Since June 1, 2024, registered CBD products have been sold in pharmacies. As of August 2026, there were 161 of them (dietary supplements, cosmetics, food, and herbal teas) in more than 600 authorized retail outlets. No official source mentions smokable flowers or resins in this circuit.

Bringing hash back from Morocco: the worst travel idea

We will say it plainly: do not bring anything back. In France, bringing hashish into the country constitutes drug trafficking and importation, an offense incomparable to simple consumption. And even a Moroccan CBD product purchased legally remains subject to French law upon your return, with its 0.3% THC limit.

If you are wondering what really distinguishes hashish from herb, in terms of both production and effects, we covered it in our article on the difference between hash and weed.

Key Takeaways

Morocco has legalized the field, not the joint. The plant has become a regulated agricultural resource, with cooperatives, licenses, and controls, but anyone who smokes remains subject to a 1974 law that provides for prison time.

For your trip, the calculation is simple: street supply in the Rif has no legal protection, and returning to France with hashish in your bag is the most costly mistake you can make.

Informative article, updated as of September 24, 2026. Sources: Moroccan Law No. 13-21 on the lawful use of cannabis, Dahir No. 1-73-282 of May 21, 1974, on drug addiction, ANRAC. This does not constitute legal advice and legislation is subject to change. For ages 18+. Compliant with current European legislation (< 0.3% THC). Consumption of illicit cannabis remains prohibited in France.