Morocco is ready to teach Africa how to grow cannabis...legally, of course

Ghanaian officials will head to Morocco next month to learn from one of Africa's most experienced cannabis producer, as Accra prepares to bring an age-old illicit crop into the legal economy.

For generations, cannabis farmers in Ghana have worked in the shadows. They cultivated the plant discreetly in forest clearings and hidden fields, earning just enough to survive while risking arrest, harassment, and the destruction of their crops.

Now, with Ghana moving to regulate cannabis for medical and industrial use, the government is offering farmers something they have rarely had: legitimacy.

In July, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) met Morocco's ambassador in Accra, Imane Quaadil, to study Rabat's regulatory framework.

The talks, led by NACOC Director General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, focused on how Morocco licenses growers, monitors production chains, organizes cooperatives, and certifies plant varieties.

Quaadil confirmed that Ghanaian officials will travel to Morocco in September for training and observation.

"Morocco is willing to share its expertise to strengthen drug control systems not only in Ghana but across the entire continent of Africa," said Quaadil during the meeting.

Morocco, one of the world's largest cannabis producers, legalised cultivation for medical and industrial purposes in 2021.

It created a new agency, ANRAC, to oversee licensing and traceability. Since then, Rabat has completed its first legal harvests and gradually expanded controlled growing areas.

For Ghana's small-scale farmers, the policy shift brings both hope and uncertainty. Many have relied on cannabis for decades, cultivating it illegally, to sustain their families in regions with few alternatives.

Legalisation could open access to markets and protections long denied, but only if farmers can navigate the bureaucracy of licensing, regulation and quality control.

"Despite the optimism surrounding this green revolution, experts emphasise the need to ensure inclusivity for all stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers," wrote policy analyst Victor Oluwole. "It is essential to prevent a situation where corporate giants dominate the industry, leaving ordinary producers struggling to compete."

Licensing costs are also a concern, with many growers fearing they will be priced out. Others worry about food security, as farmers may shift away from staple crops to cannabis.

The government has promised a transparent licensing process and insists that regulatory bodies such as NACOC are building the capacity to manage the industry effectively.

Cannabis has deep roots across the continent. The plant is believed to have reached North Africa as early as the 12th Century, while indigenous communities in Southern Africa used it long before European colonisation.

Over centuries, it became woven into trade, ritual, and daily life, producing celebrated strains such as Durban Poison and Malawi Gold.

Colonial-era prohibitions in the early 20th century did little to stop cultivation, which often endured among marginalised communities who depended on the crop.

Ghana joined a growing list of African countries to legalise medical cannabis in December 2023, amending its laws to allow low-THC cultivation strictly for medical and industrial use. The Interior Ministry was given licensing powers, while NACOC was tasked with enforcement.

Officials argue the new policy will formalise a long-illicit trade, reduce risks for farmers, and guarantee quality for patients and industries.

The government also hopes it will create jobs and spur industrial innovation.

Mark Darko, CEO of Ghana's Chamber of Cannabis Industry, aims to generate $1 billion annually from the sector, with one hectare yielding $10,000 and global demand projected at $21 billion by 2025.

For Ghana's farmers, the coming months could mark a new chapter, one where cannabis moves from a hidden lifeline to a legitimate crop with real stakes, and a chance to reshape the country's economy.