Authorities in Morocco announced on Sunday the official start of its first legal cannabis growing season, two years after the country’s parliament passed a law to regulate an already widespread activity.
The first batch of cannabis seeds, imported from Switzerland, was delivered to farmers and agricultural co-operatives in the northern provinces of Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen and Taounate.
Those who received the seeds had to sign receipts to keep track of the distributed quantities.
Last October, a Moroccan state agency began the process of issuing cannabis cultivation permits a year after the law was passed by parliament.
Cannabis, more commonly known as “keef” in Morocco, is already widely grown in the country illegally.
Authorities say that the new legal framework aims to improve farmers’ incomes and deter drug traffickers who smuggle cannabis to Europe.
However, the law that was issued by the Moroccan parliament in May 2021 only allows its cultivation for industrial, medical or export purposes and does not permit its recreational use.
Local media have reported the cannabis seeds distributed for the 2023 season will cover 105 hectares of land, with more than 170 farmers involved in the process.
The government says that the number of farmers benefitting from these permits will rise to 500 in the next agricultural season. Farmers must be official members of the state’s agricultural co-operatives.
The process of importing cannabis seeds follows strict regulations.
It is compulsory to be authorised by state-run agencies including the national agency for the legalisation of activities related to cannabis and the national office for the health safety of food products, which comes under the Health Ministry.
Importers must also obtain special permits from the Interior Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry.
Morocco’s decision to regulate cannabis cultivation is considered groundbreaking by some.
Others believe the country faces challenges while it seeks to incorporate the sector into its official economy, especially as dozens of farmers continue to cultivate the plant illegally due to the limited number of permits granted.
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The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
Other IPL batting records
Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell
Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)
Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar
Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle
Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir
Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
