The government council has kicked off the legislative process for the legalization of cannabis after it approved a bill in that regards which shall be submitted for the approval of the two chambers of the parliament.
Legalizing the use of cannabis in Morocco has been a hot issue, particularly after some MPs campaigned for allowing cannabis to be used for medical purposes.
The draft law, elaborated by the interior ministry, provides for the setting up of a national agency in charge of buying the plant from farmers and selling it to pharmaceutical firms.
The interior ministry move came after the UN dropped cannabis from the list of most dangerous drugs and acknowledged its medical benefits.
The UN decision was taken after a recommendation from the World Health Organization to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from its Schedule IV classification under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
Many countries look to global conventions for guidance, and United Nations recognition is a symbolic win for advocates of drug policy change.
Farmers especially in northern Morocco are looking forward to the new law with hope to alleviate their suffering and improve their living conditions.
Thousands of families have been planting cannabis and face multiple risk due to the illegal character of their farming activity.