• Moroccan firm CANNAFLEX achieved the first international sale of a cannabis-based medicine, prescribed to a patient in South Africa on October 17, 2025.

• The operation was conducted through a strategic partnership with South Africa’s DRA Pharmaceuticals, ensuring international compliance and quality standards.

• The deal signals Morocco’s entry into the global medical cannabis market, following domestic advances such as Pharma 5’s launch of the country’s first generic cannabis drug in 2024.

Morocco’s legal cannabis industry has reached a new stage in its development with its first international sale of a cannabis-based drug. Beldiya Plus°, developed by the Moroccan laboratory CANNAFLEX from locally cultivated cannabis, was prescribed and delivered to a patient in South Africa on October 17.

The company announced the sale in a statement published on October 20, calling it a historic milestone for Morocco’s nascent legal cannabis industry on the international market. The export was made possible through a strategic partnership with South African pharmaceutical manufacturer DRA Pharmaceuticals, which specializes in compliance and pharmaceutical quality.

“Our advanced pharmaceutical laboratories and expertise are essential to ensure that Beldiya Plus° meets the strictest international standards. This partnership with CANNAFLEX revolutionizes access to medical cannabis by offering patients safe, reliable, and evidence-based therapies,” said Chris Hutton, CEO of DRA Pharmaceuticals.

The collaboration highlights how Moroccan producers are aligning with international regulations to access foreign markets. Industry observers see this as a critical validation of Morocco’s ability to deliver compliant, research-backed medical cannabis products beyond its borders.

The international breakthrough follows earlier domestic progress. In December 2024, Moroccan pharmaceutical company Pharma 5 launched Cannabidiol Pharma 5, the country’s first generic cannabis-based drug, developed under a MAD 250 million ($27.1 million) investment. The drug, positioned as a revolutionary treatment for epilepsy, received national marketing authorization and is expected to reach Moroccan pharmacies during the first half of 2025.

Industry experts say these developments confirm Morocco’s strategic move to capture a share of the global medical cannabis market, leveraging its agricultural capacity, legal framework, and growing pharmaceutical expertise.

According to Statista, the global medical cannabis market is projected to reach $21.4 billion by the end of 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 2.24%, to $23.9 billion by 2030.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum