Morocco has reached an important milestone in its pharmaceutical industry, and it took five years of research to get there.
On November 12, Moroccan pharmaceutical company Pharma 5 officially presented its first locally manufactured cannabis-based medicine, developed to treat certain severe forms of epilepsy that don’t respond well to conventional treatments.
And there’s more to the story than the medicine itself.
The company has also developed a locally produced active pharmaceutical ingredient derived from cannabis, using cannabidiol, better known as CBD, purified to more than 98%.
The project involved Moroccan researchers, laboratories and industrial expertise, with an investment exceeding 200 million dirhams.
The medication, called Cannabidiol Pharma 5, has been available in Morocco since November 9, following regulatory approval.
But here’s something important.
This isn’t recreational cannabis, and it isn’t a product people can purchase for general wellness. It’s a regulated prescription medicine intended for specific medical conditions.
And while the development represents a major step for Moroccan pharmaceutical production, affordability remains a challenge.
A 100 ml bottle costs approximately 5,498 dirhams, with reimbursement approval still being processed.
That price makes access an important part of the conversation, particularly for families dealing with serious medical conditions.
For Morocco, the launch also shows how locally developed medical technology can create opportunities beyond traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing.
From regulated cannabis cultivation to the final medicine, the project brings together research, agriculture and industry.
It’s an achievement for Moroccan science.
The next challenge will be making sure that the patients who need this treatment can actually access it.
