Experimentation de la culture de chanvre industriel a fibres au Maroc/Experiment of industrial hemp crops in Morocco

In anticipation of the legalization of hemp fiber cultivation in Morocco, an experiment of this crops was conducted between 19/04/2010 and 10/08/2010 in four different regions of the country, and concerned three varieties Santhica 27, Epsilon 68 and Futura 75, all authorized in Europe. The tests were conducted in areas with geographical, climatic and soil characteristics different than European cultures, that's why it was necessary to verify the behavior of these plants by controlling their Delta -9-THC content. Sampling, drying and [ Delta -9-THC] evaluation in these crops were performed according to procedure B of European Regulation EC N degree 1177/2000, and using a simplified method based on the determination of the ratio alpha = Delta -9-THC/CBD. The preliminary results obtained by both methods reveal no exceeded values however the culture conditions are not exactly the same as those adopted in Europe. In addition, photoperiod characteristic of these south Mediterranean regions are very favourable, thereby resulting in a fast maturing crops which have all reached the late stage of flowering after two and half months