Top Five Countries Where Cannabis is Produced

Cannabis is produced in almost all countries around the world. However, the sale and consumption of cannabis is illegal in most countries. Uruguay and Canada are the only two countries that have fully legalised the recreational use of cannabis nationwide. This means that the information on where the plant is grown and harvested is not readily available. This list is based on data collected by the United Nations annual World Drug Report.

 

Morocco

 

While there is debate, most researchers agree that Morocco is the largest producer of cannabis in the world. The World Drug Report of 2017 stated that 47,000 hectares in Morocco are used for cannabis cultivation. This is more than three times the second frontrunner.

Cannabis has been grown in Morocco for centuries, as the plant responds well to the fertile soil of the mountainous Rif region. While cannabis is illegal in this country, the criminalisation of its production is decreasing due to a recognition that its sale contributes greatly to the economy.

 

 

Mexico

 

Mexico has a long history of cannabis cultivation, as the plant was introduced to the country by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. The word ‘marijuana’ actually originated from Mexico.

The consumption of cannabis is very normalised in Mexico, as the government formally decriminalised the possession of up to five grams in 2009. The possession of small amounts of cocaine and heroin for personal use were also decriminalised in order to treat addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal offence.

 

Afghanistan

 

The cannabis Indica plant is native to Afghanistan, as well as India, so the plant has been cultivated in the region for centuries. In the 1970s Afghanistan became a popular destination for hippies looking to consume cannabis.

By 2010, the country produced the most cannabis in the world, with 20,000 hectares used for cultivation. It has since been surpassed and the Taliban has used cannabis cultivation as a source of revenue.

 

 

Paraguay

 

One of the largest cultivators of cannabis in South America, Paraguay exports cannabis to countries across the continent for a very low price. In these cases, the quality of the product is often low and can be toxic. The use of cannabis is demonised by the general population, who refer to the plant as ‘hierba maldita’ (‘demon weed’).

However, in 2019, the cultivation of industrial hemp was legalised and Paraguay began to legally export medical cannabis to the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.

 

India

 

Cannabis Indica is native to India and was named after the country. In India, as well as China, Nepal and Tibet, cannabis can grow in the wild, without formal cultivation. For approximately 4,000 years, people in India have been using the plant in cannabis preparations such as charas (resin), ganja (flower), and bhang (seeds and leaves).

In 2019, it was reported that India was the country with the largest number of consumers, with an estimated 31 million people using cannabis. In 2016, it was reported that the price of cannabis in India was the lowest of any country in the world.