Chefchaouen: the paradise of cannabis and influencers
Chefchaouen, known as the ‘blue pearl’ of Morocco, attracts more and more tourists from all over the world every year. The reasons are the beauty of its blue-painted streets, the craft stalls, the friendliness of its inhabitants … and the possibility of being able to get cannabis easily.
Chefchaouen is a small town located between the Rif mountains just over 100 km from Ceuta. It was a Spanish colony, so most of its inhabitants can communicate in Spanish. In addition, you will see how the streets are labeled in Arabic and Spanish and most of the hotels are named after Spanish cities.
It is possibly one of the most attractive towns in Morocco. The main reason is to see its streets dyed in an intense blue that gives it a very lively touch. Together with its craftsmanship in any small stall and the friendliness of its inhabitants, they make this place an essential stop if you visit the northwest of Morocco.
Such is its beauty that it has become one of the reference points for ‘influencers’ and professional photographers wanting to take different portraits. Boys and girls with designer clothes and accessories that contrast with the modest outfits of the locals.
Although this ‘posture tourism’ is very attractive in terms of the visibility of the place, there is another type of attraction that is more economically profitable. We are talking about ‘cannabis tourism’, a form of business lived by approximately 80,000 families throughout the entire Rif region.
Chefchaouen and cannabis tourism
Chefchaouen and the Rif region provide devastating data about their economy based on the kif (own variety). It is estimated that more than half of the pollen that circulates in the world leaves this area, thus being an economic escape route for a highly repressed area of the North African country.
Its price and the ease of obtaining cannabis are the main attraction to travel to Chefchaouen. If you cross the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry to Tangier and then plan to take a taxi, the taxi driver himself will advise you if he senses that you want to smoke marijuana. They are very familiar with these types of visitors and, therefore, aware of helping you get what you are looking for.
At any corner of one of those narrow and beautiful streets of the city, the least expected inhabitant will smile at you and tell you that they know a cooperative. If you ignore it, it will be more direct and will ask you directly if you want cannabis, kif or chocolate. Unlike other larger cities such as Marrakesh or Tangier, the discretion is less, probably because the local authorities turn a blind eye.
Although the tourist wanting to smoke is usually very recognizable, you can see cases of young couples taking a great photo session in the morning and later see them at sunset in the square next to the Kasbah (Alcazaba) negotiating the price of the tap.
Another area to visit is the municipal laundry. It is a very touristy area because it is next to a beautiful waterfall where you can have a quiet tea or coffee. Over there you will see many young people enjoying a reading, children playing in the water and ‘camels’, many ‘camels’ that approach you at sunset to try to sell you their product.
Luckily, retail traders are not usually as heavy as in the aforementioned large cities. If you show interest but are hesitant, they will offer to attend their plantations. These are in the hills, next to small villages, which you will have to walk up as most of them are impossible to reach by car. We are talking about 40-60 minute walks.
The trip can be heavy, but at least you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and especially the ‘blue pearl’ in a panoramic way. The farms are purely family-run, intervening in the production of cannabis from young school-age children to the very old. Without a doubt, the ugly part of this entire industry.
The debate on legalization in Morocco
he boom de la maría has been an undeniable fact for a few years now. Towns like those of the Rif increasingly have fewer hectares dedicated to the cultivation of agri-food in favor of cannabis. Its price and quality make it a highly valued product, so there is more and more debate about how to regulate this situation.
The pressure of Europe and the United States or the intolerance of Islam with drugs conditions a situation of acceptance and possible laws that decriminalize it. Meanwhile, Chefchaouen and its endearing inhabitants wake up every morning trying to please the tourist who seeks to see life in blue, either through its streets or experiencing through a good smoke.
At Madame Grow® we are experts in organic biotechnology applied to the cultivation of marijuana or therapeutic cannabis. In addition to the blog, you can follow us on our social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) where we share more information about our activity and the world of marijuana.
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