Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SCAMS & HASSLE
The vast majority of Moroccan stories of extortion and rip-offs are drug-related. Recent legislation and a
hard government line may have forced dealers to give up their more aggressive tactics, but the hassle has
not disappeared.
A common ploy is to get you stoned, force you to buy a piece of hash the size of a brick and then turn you
over to the police (or at least threaten to). Once you've purchased hash, or even just smoked some, you're
unlikely to call the cops, and the hustlers know it.
HOT SPOTS
»
Associating with Tangier's lowlife is for the initiated only. New arrivals should ignore late-night offers of
hashish and grass. These dealers have a sixth sense for greenness, and won't miss an opportunity to squeeze
ridiculous amounts of money out of frightened people.
»
Watch out for similar scams in Tetouan, Assilah, Casablanca and Marrakesh.
»
Issaguen (Ketama) and the Rif Mountains are Morocco's kif-growing heartland. Issaguen in particular can
be a bag-load of trouble, and is best avoided unless you're accompanied by a reliable guide.
MAJOUN
»
You may occasionally be offered
majoun,
a sticky, pasty mass (not unlike molasses) made of crushed
marijuana seeds.
»
A small ball of
majoun
can send you reeling (see Paul Bowles'
Their Heads Are Green
or
Let It Come
Down
for descriptions).
»
Anyone with a slight tendency to paranoia when smoking dope should be aware that this is a common re-
action among first-time
majoun
munchers.
SPAIN
Although the Spanish police have a relaxed attitude towards small amounts of cannabis for private use,
Spanish customs will come down hard on people entering the country from Morocco in possession of the
drug, and you could be done for trafficking.
»
If you're taking a car across, the chances that it will be searched are high.
»
Never
carry parcels or drive vehicles across borders for other people.
Getting Lost
»
A minor irritation is the ever-changing street names in Moroccan cities.
»
For years, there's been a slow process of replacing old French, Spanish and Berber names with Arabic
ones.
»
The result so far is that, depending on whom you talk to, what map you use or which part of the street you
are on, you're likely to see up to three different names.
