Indian Cannabis Uses… Over 3,000 Licenses Issued by Early 2024

Heba Press

Since the beginning of 2024, under Law No. 21-13 on the legal uses of cannabis, the National Agency for the Legalization of Marijuana-Related Activities has issued 3,029 licenses, compared to 721 licenses in 2023.

According to data published by the agency, there are 2,837 licenses for the benefit of 2,659 farmers for the activity of cultivation and production of cannabis, against 430 licenses in 2023, and 192 licenses for the benefit of 98 operators, against 291 licenses for the benefit of 138 operators in 2023.

The 192 licenses are divided into 60 licenses for the conversion activity, 49 licenses for the marketing activity, 39 licenses for the export activity, 24 licenses for the seed import activity, 18 licenses for the transport activity, one license for the seed export activity and another for the establishment and operation of nurseries.

The agency confirmed that the 98 operators benefiting from these licenses are divided among 23 cooperatives, 51 companies and 24 individuals.

Since the beginning of this year, the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Indian Hemp has approved 7.3 million cannabis seeds based on 26 import licenses granted by the National Office for Food Safety (UNSA), on an area of ​​1,164 hectares for the benefit of 100 production cooperatives bringing together 1,520 farmers.

Since the beginning of 2024, the agency has also authorized the use of 1,634 quintals of local (municipal) hemp seeds, based on 106 licenses for the use of these “municipal” seeds, granted by the UNSA, for an area of ​​1,916 hectares. for the benefit of 106 production cooperatives bringing together 1,816 farmers.

The use of the “Baladiya” variety was authorized in 2024 on an area of ​​1,916 hectares for the benefit of production cooperatives, based on the preliminary results recorded through the study launched with the National Institute of Agronomic Research on the characteristics of the local terroir. Moroccan variety “Baladiya”.

On the other hand, the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Indian Hemp, in consultation with the National Food Safety Agency, has developed a protocol that includes precise and specific conditions to ensure the use of this variety in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The above conditions include, in particular, the drafting by the head of the production cooperative, which exclusively includes farmers approved by the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Indian Hemp, of a request addressed to (UNSA) and the requesting agency. the use of hemp seeds of the “municipal” variety, with the commitment of the production cooperative. By setting up a traceability register for cannabis seeds of this variety.

These conditions also cover the obligation of the relevant actor, within the framework of the production sale contract, to purchase the entire production collected from farmers approved by the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Indian Hemp and who are involved in the relevant production cooperative, and who have cultivated the “Baladiyya” variety, and the obligation of the relevant actor to prepare and submit An obligation of the relevant Agency to conclude a contract with a pharmaceutical production company, with the intention of selling the total extracts of the plant containing a percentage of “tetrahydrocannabinol” (THC) greater than or equal to 1 percent in accordance with the requirements of Law No. 21-13 on the legal uses of cannabis.

It also concerns the obligation of the actor to destroy all plant extracts containing a quantity of “Tetrahydrocannabinol” greater than or equal to 1 percent at the end of the transformation process for industrial purposes, so that only extracts containing a quantity of “Tetrahydrocannabinol” less than 1 percent can be left behind, in the event that the pharmaceutical company concerned does not comply with the obligations agreed in the contract for the purchase of the production of “municipal” cannabis.

According to the National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Indian Hemp, the same applies to the obligation of the actor concerned to submit to it the results of the analysis carried out by a laboratory recognized by the Agency and proving that the content of “tetrahydrocannabinol” of the production at the end of processing of the variety “Baladiya”, the subject of the request of the cooperative concerned, Less than 1 percent.