Will Moroccan cannabis and Israeli knowledge bring in billions?
Morocco is known as a "leisure cannabis" powerhouse, but will one of the largest growers in the world be able to channel its famous cannabis industry in the medical and cosmetic direction?
To this end, they turned to Israeli help: from academics to those in charge of regulation and enforcement.
Exclusive report from Casablanca
Roast Greenberg
29/06/2022
Wednesday, 29 June 2022, 08:57 Updated: 09:36
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
Share on general
Comments
Comments
Yoram Ohayon and Abdelrani Grammy at a conference in Casablanca (Photo: Bezalel Greenberg)
Normalization in a good mind: Morocco is institutionalizing the medical cannabis activity in the country, and has chosen Israel as a representative model for the industry it intends to build, about two and a half years after a normalization agreement was signed between the two countries.
The Ibn Rochd University Medical Center in Casablanca, the trust on the subject, has in the last two days held a first-of-its-kind conference in the North African country, at which the first cornerstone was laid for building the local medical cannabis industry.
This industry is not self-evident, as the industry is currently operating illegally and causing many waves of outrage in the Muslim country.
Its medical direction, however, has become a holiday for the country’s governing bodies, characterized by cannabis and cannabis for recreational purposes flooding the streets of Europe and Africa.
One of the segments of the film was none other than
retired General Yoram Ohayon
- A well-known figure in the Israeli medical cannabis industry, and is even better known as a party that enforces its bans in the context of his police past, including as commander of the Yarkon area in Tel Aviv.
Ohayon was selected by the Moroccan Cannabis Advisory Association and by the Ibn Rochd University Center to accompany the process of building the regulation and cornerstones of the Moroccan medical cannabis industry.
Although Ohayon's choice was born in a chance meeting with key figures on the issue in Morocco, their arrival on the Israeli lap is not accidental, in light of the inspiration that the Moroccans received from the Israeli regulation for market development.
To this end, they invited three more Israelis, who were also honored at the opening of the conference.
The first of these is the hottest international name in the field - the cannabis chemist from the Hebrew University,
Prof. Rafael Meshulam, one of the pioneers in the study of cannabis components
.
Alongside him, the Israeli head of the Yakar (Medical Cannabis Unit), Yuval Landshpat
, was also invited to the lectures.
, Joined by
a plant science expert from Bar Ilan University, Prof. Yigal Cohen
.
The conference on the Moroccan side consisted mainly of local doctors, who were thirsty for knowledge of the developing industry, and owners of local companies, whose main activity today is in the generic production of pharma and cosmetics, which they export to Africa and the Middle East.
The cannabis industry opens up development opportunities for them towards Europe, which is about a 20-minute cruise (Spain), but in order to meet them they are required to meet strict European growth and production standards and seek the help of Israeli knowledge to reach the required standard.
More on Walla!
Everything you need to know about writing a resume in 2022
In collaboration with ManpowerGroup
Entrance sign for the conference.
The goal: the transfer of the giant industry in the country to operate within the framework of the law (Photo: Walla !, Bezalel Greenberg)
Meet with Ehud Barak
One of the oldest manufacturers in the North African country is
El Guermai Abdelghani, the founder and president of the medical laboratory company Galenica
and the owner of the well-known Casablanca Hotel in the city.
Abdelrani visited Israel only about a week ago, and says that he also met figures from the cannabis industry, including Prime Minister and former Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who serves as chairman of Intercure.
Moroccan pharma companies are not waiting for Israelis, Look for any competitive advantage that will allow for
the
primacy of their products over the competition, such as the uniqueness of formulas and
technologies
.
Latif said during the conference that he would be happy to make land available to the state vision, but he is not willing to oblige him to provide funding for compliance with one standard or another, he also asked the state to preserve the rights of growers when they come under the new regulation.
The King of Morocco, Muhammad VI, decided to make the cannabis grower and the largest cannabis producer in the world an international leader in the field of medical cannabis, and in May 2021 the Moroccan parliament passed a law to institutionalize the field of cannabis and direct it to the medical field.
The transition from an illegal recreational cannabis powerhouse to a medical cannabis empire required the construction of the Moroccan Cannabis Advisory Association, headed by
Prof. Redouane Rabii, director of the urology department at Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca
, and director of the University of Casablanca.
Rabbi was tasked with building the industrial base and the regulation required of it, and he chose Israel as the best source to draw inspiration from, after meeting Ohayon in Israel at a medical conference.
Ohayon is currently accompanying the rabbi in everything needed to start the process of building the new industrial framework.
Prof. Radwan Rabbi.
"The decision to make the illegal cultivation of cannabis in the country medical is correct for Morocco in every way" (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)
Why Israel?
The illegal cannabis and cannabis market in Morocco is estimated at 25 billion euros a year - about 25 times the size of the medical cannabis market in Israel, and the Moroccan government expects that entry into the field of pharma, cosmetics and medical treatment will increase it by tens (and possibly hundreds).
Prof. Rabbi told Walla!
Money: "The decision to make illegal cannabis cultivation in the country medical is right for Morocco in every way; both politically, by reversing its perception from harmful to helpful, and especially to critically ill and elderly patients in poor medical condition.
It will benefit manufacturers and pharma industries. "They will also build more factories that will expand the employment circle and bring more taxes into the country, but also to local growers, who will now be able to operate more cleanly and will also have increased sales volumes, along with high margins as a product for the pharma industry."
As for Israel's role in advancing the industry, Prof. Rabbi added: "Israel is the compass for the development of the Moroccan medical cannabis industry, as it is a pioneer in the field of regulation, a pioneer in research into its medical uses and a pioneer in growing and manufacturing products in
this field. Israel is also a leader in the field of medical
cannabis
study and training in the world, both medical and botanical, and we intend to begin the process with curricula, training and instruction for both doctors, the field and the cannabis farms. "
, Which will grow the plant according to the required medical standards.
The combination of Israeli research, knowledge and technologies, with the Moroccan capabilities, will make Morocco the leading country in the field, and the largest exporter operating in it."
CPA Doron Arami, director and head of settlement, industry and innovation in agriculture and food at the consulting firm BDO
, told Walla! Money:
Morocco is therefore becoming very attractive for Israeli players who can take part in it, as the Moroccans will need extensive knowledge already in their hands, along with technologies and innovations that will give an advantage over other players in the area close to them, such as Spain, France, and African countries.
In addition, there is a possibility that some of the Moroccan manufacturers will first want to import the Israeli products in order to use them for a foothold in the field in the various markets to which the country already exports.
For the Israelis who succeed in integrating, this is a financial oxygen balloon that can change their situation and add an important layer to their company's activities. "
Of money
Global money
Tags
Cannabis
Medical Cannabis
Morocco
hashish