The Rif Mountains in northern Morocco – cannabis has been cultivated here for centuries. In episode 4 of the Morocco series, we reach Ketama and are invited by local farmers for tea. A moment that changes everything.
Ketama: The Heart of Moroccan Cannabis
Ketama isn’t just a place – it’s a legend. The small town in the Rif Mountains has been the center of Moroccan hash production for generations. What Amsterdam is to coffeeshops, Ketama is to hashish: the origin.
First Tea: Tradition and Respect
In Morocco, everything begins with tea. Moroccan mint tea, sweet and strong, served in small glasses. It’s more than a drink – it’s a sign of hospitality, a ritual that sets the stage for conversation.
The Farmers
The farmers of Ketama are not criminals – they are farmers. Families who have worked the same land for generations. For them, cannabis is what wine is for a vintner in Tuscany: tradition, craft, livelihood.
The Rif Mountains: Geography and Climate
The mountains offer ideal conditions: altitude, sunshine, and cool nights. The plants grow wild and robust, without pesticides, without artificial fertilizers. For centuries, the methods have hardly changed.
Between Tradition and Modernity
Morocco is debating the legalization of cannabis. For the farmers of Ketama, it would be a chance to step out of illegality. But also a risk: would regulation allow their traditional growing methods to survive?
