The cultivation of cannabis in Morocco’s Rif Mountains is believed to date back to centuries. It was introduced by Arab traders to North Africa in the 7th Century. Cannabis thrived in the region due to its dry climate, which is characterized by mountains and cold temperatures. The plant was initially consumed as KifA blend of tobacco and cannabis smoked through traditional pipes. SebsiBy the end of the 20th century, hashish was being produced. In the 1960s, and 1970s, international travellers introduced new methods and increased global demand. Morocco has become the biggest producer of cannabis in the entire world. The Rif Valley is a center for processing and cultivation.
Over generations, the farms of Morocco’s Rif Valley mastered hash-production. They are now combining traditional methods and modern GMP standards in order to produce high-quality, exportable products. The traditional Ketama drums, or Tam Tams, remain key to processing cultural heritage and complying with international standards.
Humboldt Seed Company, the Northern Californian company renowned for their expertise in genetics of cannabis plants, was actively involved in this change.
Moroccan Hash Making Seasons
HSC worked closely with the local farmers, visiting them during each of the four seasons in order to understand their farming practices. HSC’s founder and CEO Nathaniel Pennington, along with his team, have helped Rif Valley Farmers identify challenges and introduce innovative breeding techniques to both respect tradition and increase economic viability.
“We found ourselves sharing the same message with all the farmers we met: ‘Hold on to your heritage genetics because you have something very special here,'” shares Pennington, who also says the Moroccan Beldia hash offers “a much more visual high, almost like a mild acid trip.”
Winter And Ramadan – Quiet Period
Ramadan is a quiet time in the Rif valley during the winter. It’s the main hash-processing season. As temperatures drop below 50°F, the valley echoes with the rhythmic sounds of Ketama drums, signaling hash production.
The method of processing is simple but effective: dried cannabis is passed through silkscreens with sticks in order to remove trichomes. The method is a reflection of more than 6,000 generations’ worth of oral knowledge. The workers sing together traditional songs as they work in harmony, creating an atmosphere rich in tradition.
HSC’s winter trip allowed them to observe these practices up close. They noted how seasonal workers and extended families gather at nighttime in order to process the hash. The hash, once it is finished, is then stored in fridges until bricks are made for export. Morocco continues to be the biggest global hashish exporter, with significant shipment into Europe.
Spring Planting: Practices
The Rif Valley is awash with greenery in spring. Farmers in the Rif Valley use an innovative circular planting system to plant around their compound. In the inner circle, Romea flower (foreign genotypes) is planted. This requires more watering and attention. The “Middle Circle”, however, is for
Beldia Romea hybrids only require moderate care. The last “Outer Circle”, is the Beldia landrace variety. The hardy, adapted varieties yield just three percent cannabinoids.
HSC teamed up with local farmers during the spring season to explore new ways of increasing yields and respecting tradition practices. Also, they began to phenohunt to discover strains with high resistance to the Moroccan climate.
Summer: Plant-Tending Challenges
Cannabis plants are tended during the summer. Fusarium, a pathogen that can threaten crops, is a challenge for farmers. HSC focused on identifying resistant phenotypes through extensive pheno-hunting efforts—a process they’ve mastered globally across regions such as California, Jamaica and Antigua. They wanted to create strains with both high yields and resilience, so farmers could meet the market’s demands while maintaining traditional values.
Harvesting And Storage in the Fall
In the Rif Valley, harvest season is during autumn. Farmers carefully flip the plants and gently dry cannabis in the sun on large tarps. Plants are dried and stacked in compact brick-like formations that can be up to 100ft long. The terpenes, cannabinoids and other compounds are preserved by this ancient method of storage.
HSC has identified several opportunities to boost farmer profits by increasing yields. For example, Beldia Flower produces 100kg with just 1kg hash and Romea Flower provides 100kg with only 13kg hash. HSC’s breeding initiatives aim to find a middle ground—developing strains that combine Beldia’s resilience with Romea’s productivity while retaining traditional characteristics.
Humboldt Seed Company’s Global Pheno-Hunting efforts
HSC’s efforts in Morocco are part of the global pheno hunting initiative, which is a global effort to conserve ancient landraces strains by adapting them according to market demand. They documented Moroccan farmers’ traditions and stories to make sure their voices are heard during the legalization changes. The team explored genetic diversity within Beldia strains—valued for their drought resistance—and introduced international genetics to enhance cannabinoid production.
HSC has been working on triploid strains to produce plants with no seeds that will be better suited for the unique Moroccan environment. HSC and Dr. Machel Emanuel collaborated on the Latitudes Project, preserving biodiversity while modernizing Indigenous landraces in Caribbean.
Maintaining Tradition through Innovation
The Four Seasons approach highlights how innovation can coexist with tradition—ensuring Moroccan hash remains a global treasure while supporting local farmers economically and culturally. Humboldt Seed Company achieves this balance through combining the latest modern breeding methods with traditional practices which produce superior cannabis.