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Morocco To Legalise Weed Next Week

Morocco To Legalise Weed Next Week

The government hopes the move will protect farmers

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

The Moroccan government is set to legalise marijuana next week.

The country's leaders announced on Thursday (25 February) that the farming, export and domestic sale of the drug for medical and industrial use would be allowed under the rule change and that it should be passed through parliament in the coming days.

Currently, while the growing of weed is illegal in Morocco, it is tolerated, with the North African country one of the world's biggest producers of the drug, according to the United Nations.

In the past, numerous attempts to legalise the production and sale of cannabis have failed.

However, it's understood that the conservative Justice and Development Party (PJD) has stepped aside and dropped its opposition.

This was in reaction to the drug being removed from the UN drug agency's list of the world's most tightly controlled substances - a decision which was taken to make research into the medical use much easier.

PA

And while a draft law, which has been seen by Reuters, reportedly states it will legalise the production and sale of weed, it's clear that recreational use will still be banned, officially.

It is hoped that the move will support the country's farmers, giving them access to a fast-growing global market and protect them from criminal drug traffickers

The issue will go before the government next week and will almost certainly be approved.

This comes after it was revealed a growing number of people in the Australian state of Victoria want the drug to be legalised there, too.

The Victorian government announced in May last year that the Legislative Council's Legal and Social Issues Committee would be encouraging submissions into the use of cannabis throughout the state.

Since then, more than 1,800 submissions have been made public on their website, showing that many are hoping for weed to get the green light.

PA

The committee was set up to investigate five aspects of cannabis use in Victoria.

"In addition to the committee's five main functions, they will also assess how other jurisdictions have approached the issue of cannabis legalisation.

Committee Chair and leader of the Reason Party Fiona Patten, who is a strong believer in reforming the current drug laws, said: "We want to hear from community members about the current restrictions on the use of cannabis in Victoria and whether these are appropriate.

"We're interested in hearing people's views on whether the use of cannabis should remain legal for medical treatment only or whether current restrictions on the use of cannabis should be changed.

"At the same time, it's crucial that our own community members have the opportunity to get involved with this conversation.

"That's why we're encouraging people with an interest in these issues to make a submission."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, law, Cannabis, Marijuana, Drugs, weed, Politics