Demand in Europe driving cannabis cultivation in Morocco, UN anti-drug agency says

The demand for cannabis in Europe is driving more farmers in Morocco to cultivate the plant at the expense of legal crops, resulting in a growing industry now worth about $12 billion, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today.

The first cannabis cultivation survey in Morocco, conducted by the Government and UNODC, confirms the country’s role as the main producer of cannabis resin, or hashish.

Announcing the results of the Morocco Cannabis Survey 2003 in Rabat today, UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa warned of the global dimensions of Morocco’s cannabis production, the international crime it generates, and the health risks posed to those who consume it. Moroccan cannabis contains up to 20 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is considered the most dangerous active ingredient.

According to the survey, raw cannabis production this year in Morocco is estimated at 47,000 tons, while the potential hashish production reached 3,080 tons. Both are mainly supplied to the European markets.

The increased cannabis cultivation is considered detrimental to other agricultural activities. The ecosystem is endangered because farmers make extensive use of fertilizers and overexploit the soil. In addition forested areas are destroyed every year to accommodate new cannabis fields, thus accelerating soil erosion.

“Morocco has acted with courage and exposed the extent of domestic cannabis cultivation, but the question must be addressed blending demand and supply measures,” Mr. Costa said. “It is Europe’s turn to focus especially on preventive measures, reducing cannabis consumption among the youth.”

Mr. Costa attributed the rise of the cannabis production in northern Morocco to the three factors: its ancient origin, the poverty of a densely populated region, and the spectacular expansion of cannabis consumption since the 1970s.

Cannabis production in Morocco, as elsewhere in the world, is to a large extent market-driven activity, UNODC said. While farmers raise a total revenue of $214 million, the total market value of Moroccan cannabis resin is estimated at $12 billion, with most of this money made by the trafficking networks operating in Europe.