House of Representatives Adopts Two Governments Bills on Legal Uses of Cannabis and Fighting Money Laundering
The House of Representatives adopted by a majority of votes on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, a government bill on the legal uses of cannabis and by unanimity of votes a government bill on money laundering in a second reading. The adoption of the two bills took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by Speaker of the House Habib El Malki with the participation of Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit and Minister of Justice Mohamed Benabdelkader.
In his presentation of Government Bill 13.21 on the Legal Uses of Cannabis, the Minister of Interior noted that this text follows the transformations marking the global drug control system, stating that Morocco has always been committed to international treaties related to drugs and adopts a legal arsenal that is harmonious with them. In the same respect, he highlighted that scientific research had proven the possibility of safe uses of some drugs like cannabis in several areas. Also, the United Nations approved in December 2020 the recommendations of the World Health Organization that no longer considers cannabis “a dangerous product with therapeutic benefits.”
Mr. Laftit also noted the unprecedented enthusiasm in countries worldwide to develop cannabis cultivation and profit from the income generated by the commercialization of its legal products. The Minister also stated that the Ministry carried out exhaustive studies on the benefits of developing cannabis cultivation at the national level for therapeutic, cosmetic, and industrial purposes, which have shown promising concrete opportunities at the economic and social levels.
During the general debate, most of the representatives of the parliamentary groups and caucus commended the Bill, calling on the Ministry to implement it shortly. The representatives agreed on the importance of establishing development in the regions that cultivate cannabis, finding solutions for farmers, putting an end to some inefficient approaches, and establishing economic and social development in the said regions.
The House of Representatives also adopted, in a second reading, Government Bill 12.18 Amending and Supplementing the Criminal Code and Law 43.05 Relative to Fighting Money Laundering. The Bill aims to track and control unlawful money ahead of its confiscation. It also aims to adapt the national legal system to the international standards adopted by the Financial Action Task-Force and to overcome the shortcomings in the current laws.
Following its adoption by the House of Representatives, the Bill will enter into force upon its publishing in the Official Gazette. However, the provisions of the first paragraph of article 38 covering the jurisdiction of some courts on money laundering crimes will not enter into force until the issuance of the statutory instrument mentioned in the said article.