Nestled in the heart of Taounate province, in Sahel Boutahar within the commune of Mezraoua, a modern factory stands as a symbol of the region's economic and social revival. Inaugurated last Tuesday by Mohamed El Guerrouj, Director General of the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (ANRAC), this first legal cannabis processing unit in the region embodies the implementation of Law 13-21, which governs the legal uses of cannabis, paving the way for a responsible cannabis sector that brings new opportunities. The Taounate factory is equipped with a state-of-the-art processing unit, designed to fully harness the potential of cannabis. Yahya Abdi, an agri-food engineer and production manager, explains the different stages of this innovative process. The process begins with «trimming», where the stems are carefully separated from the flowers, followed by the separation of seeds, which are preserved for use in the cosmetic industry. The most important step is the extraction of CBD from the flowers using Morocco's innovative «supercritical CO2» technology. «This method allows us to obtain a high yield of premium-quality CBD», Abdi adds. The transformation continues with filtration and molecular distillation, essential steps to purify and concentrate the CBD. Finally, crystallization ensures an optimal form of CBD for use in food supplements. «Our goal is to produce cannabis extracts of impeccable pharmaceutical quality that meet the strictest international standards», says Abdi. This industrial complex, spanning over 3,000 square meters, represents a real development engine for the region. In addition to creating 25 permanent jobs and more than 300 seasonal positions, it offers new prospects for local farmers. Charai Fouad, president of the cannabis growers' cooperative «SSIDA», attests that «this project has brought hope to our region, allowing farmers to generate stable income and escape precarious conditions». The factory establishes rigorous commercial contracts with partner cooperatives. These agreements require that each farmer be duly authorized and cultivate plots identified by a unique code. The contract also mandates compliance with strict production standards, including a ban on the use of chemicals. In addition to the processing unit, the project leader has established a state-of-the-art nursery to ensure the traceability of certified and selected plants for farmers to grow. The nursery, a central hub for cannabis plant production, consists of 11 greenhouses. Chentouf Mustapha, head of the technical service, explains, «In this nursery, we multiply imported cannabis seeds, selected based on strict criteria such as environmental adaptation, disease resistance, and productivity». Each parameter is carefully controlled to ensure an optimal seedling success rate of 80 to 85%. This year, the nursery produced approximately 927,000 seeds and seedlings, which were distributed to partner cooperatives covering an area of 256 hectares. The unit also collaborates with eight cooperatives cultivating local «Beldia» varieties using their own seeds. The selection of seeds is based on three main criteria: environmental adaptation, disease resistance, and productivity. The Taounate cannabis processing plant exemplifies Morocco's ambition to develop a legal, responsible, and value-added cannabis sector. This project is part of a broader vision for economic diversification and territorial development.
