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No, weed is not legal in Morocco for recreational use, and neither is hash. Using, buying or possessing cannabis outside the licensed industry is a crime, including for tourists.
What changed in 2021 is that Morocco legalised cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes, grown under licence in three northern provinces. This guide explains Morocco’s cannabis laws, the position on hashish and kif, the penalties, the legal industry, CBD, and what visitors risk.
Is weed legal in Morocco for recreational use?
Recreational weed is illegal in Morocco. Drug use, possession and trafficking are governed by a 1974 royal decree, Dahir No. 1-73-282, which remains in force. Law No. 13-21 of 2021 created a legal cannabis sector, but only for licit uses, and it does not cover recreational consumption.
Many visitors assume otherwise. Headlines about Morocco legalising cannabis, and the reputation of the Rif mountains and Chefchaouen, give the impression that weed is tolerated. It is not lawful anywhere in the country, including in the growing regions.
There is no legal recreational market, no licensed shop and no personal-use allowance. Buying from a seller in a medina or on a mountain trail is a criminal offence for the buyer as well as the seller.
Is hash legal in Morocco?
No, hash is not legal in Morocco. Hashish is a cannabis product, and making, selling, buying or possessing it outside the licensed chain is an offence under the 1974 decree.
Morocco hash has a worldwide reputation, and places such as Ketama are known for it. That reputation reflects decades of illicit cultivation in the Rif, not legal status. The 2021 law licenses cannabis for pharmaceutical and industrial products, not for hashish sold to consumers.
Kif, the traditional mix of chopped cannabis and tobacco, is treated the same way. Whatever it is called, recreational cannabis in any form is illegal.
What are the penalties under Morocco weed laws?
Penalties under Morocco weed laws depend on whether the offence is use or trade, with trafficking and possession punished far more heavily than consumption. The 1974 decree sets both tiers.
Unlawful use carries two months to one year in prison, a fine, or both, under Article 8. Prosecution is suspended if the user agrees to undergo treatment, which gives users a route out of the criminal process.
Unlawful possession, transport, production, import and export carry five to ten years in prison and a substantial fine under Article 2. Whether courts apply that article to small personal amounts could not be confirmed, so treat any possession as serious.
Growing cannabis outside the authorised areas is a separate offence under Law No. 13-21, carrying up to two years in prison and a fine.
Penalties at a glance
| Conduct | Governing law | General penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Use of cannabis, hash or kif | Dahir No. 1-73-282 of 1974, Art. 8 | 2 months to 1 year in prison and/or a fine; prosecution suspended if treatment is accepted |
| Possession, transport, production, import or export | Dahir No. 1-73-282 of 1974, Art. 2 | 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine |
| Cultivation outside authorised areas | Law No. 13-21 of 2021, Art. 51 | Up to 2 years in prison and a fine |
Is medical marijuana legal in Morocco?
Yes, medical cannabis is legal in Morocco under Law No. 13-21 on the licit uses of cannabis, promulgated in July 2021. The law allows cultivation and production for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial activities, and it created a national regulator, ANRAC, to license the whole chain.
Legal cultivation is confined to three provinces in the north: Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate. In 2024 ANRAC authorised the local beldiya variety, and in August 2024 the King pardoned thousands of people convicted, prosecuted or wanted for cannabis cultivation, according to the Justice Ministry.
The industry has grown quickly. By 2025 ANRAC reported more than 5,700 active permits and over 140 cannabis-based products registered with the medicines agency.
For patients, access runs through registered products and the pharmacy system. This is a regulated pharmaceutical market, not a medical marijuana scheme of the kind found in parts of North America.
Is CBD legal in Morocco?
Yes, CBD is legal in Morocco as a regulated product. Since June 2024, CBD food supplements and cosmetics have been sold in pharmacies under an arrangement agreed between ANRAC and the national medicines directorate.
The important word is registered. Only authorised products sold through authorised channels are lawful. A CBD product bought abroad, or sold informally, has no protection, and THC limits for these products are not printed here because the official text could not be verified.
Can you smoke weed in Morocco as a tourist?
No, weed is not legal in Morocco for tourists. Visitors are subject to the same law as Moroccans, and the medical and industrial legalisation gives visitors no right to buy or use cannabis.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office describes Morocco’s approach in its Morocco travel advice as zero tolerance. It warns that possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs, including cannabis, are serious offences that carry severe penalties.
Visitors may be offered hash in parts of Morocco, and availability can feel like tolerance. It is not. A tourist caught buying or carrying hash can be arrested and prosecuted, and taking any cannabis product through a Moroccan airport or port exposes you to import or export charges under Article 2.
The bottom line on cannabis in Morocco
Weed and hash are illegal in Morocco for recreational use under the 1974 decree, with prison or a fine for use, and five to ten years for possession, transport or trafficking. Since 2021, Law No. 13-21 has allowed cannabis for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes, grown under licence in three northern provinces, and registered CBD products are sold in pharmacies.
None of that extends to tourists. If you are visiting Morocco, do not buy, carry or use cannabis, whatever you are offered.
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Cannabis laws change frequently, always verify current rules with official sources before you travel.
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