Argentina relies on exports to boost its cannabis industry

Last Wednesday, Argentina officially launched a new government agency to boost its medical cannabis and hemp industry.

Known as the Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medical Cannabis Industry, ARICCAME represents «the first working group of a new national agency aimed at regulating and promoting the country’s emerging cannabis industry, which ministers hope will create new jobs and generate new revenue for the South American nation through exports.».

«This opens the door for Argentina to embark on a new path in terms of industrial exports, based on enormous global demand«, said Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa at an event marking the launch of the new agency.

According to Reuters, «Massa said the agency would begin on Thursday to finalize the programs and coordinate with the various provinces and [the] industrial sector, adding that Argentina was already seeing demand for projects related to the agro-industrial sector.»

On ARICCAME’s official website, the agency describes its mission and objectives:

«We are the agency that regulates the import, export, cultivation, industrial production, manufacturing, marketing, and acquisition—in any capacity whatsoever—of cannabis seeds, cannabis, and cannabis-derived products for medicinal or industrial purposes.».

The website also lists the agency’s «general objectives»:

• To establish, through the respective regulations, the regulatory framework for the entire production chain and the domestic marketing and/or export of the Cannabis Sativa L. plant.
• Promote a new agro-industrial production sector for the commercial manufacture of medicines, herbal products, food, and cosmetics for human use; medicines and food for veterinary use; as well as Various products made possible by industrial hemp
• Establish a framework for adapting the regulatory regime, cultivation, and production of cannabis-derived products for existing medical use, ensuring product traceability and quality in order to safeguard the right to health of medical cannabis users
• Reintroduce hemp in Argentina, along with all its derivatives: food, building materials, textile fiber, cellulose, and bioplastics with low environmental impact
• Promote scientific research and technological progress in the sector, fostering conditions conducive to these industries already operating in the country

ARICCAME's specific objectives also include:

• Establish clear rules that provide legal certainty for the sector and encourage federal participation
• Coordinate through agreements and conventions with other government entities involved in this area
• Determine the system of licenses and administrative permits for the production line
• Develop quality standards that protect the right to health of users and consumers of cannabis/hemp-based products
• Monitor noncompliance with regulatory requirements

Argentina has legalized Medical cannabis oil in 2017. Three years later, the country has legalized the cultivation of cannabis at home for patients.

The launch of the new agency is part of the Argentine government’s effort to continue reforming the medical cannabis program, an issue that the South American country identified as a priority last year.

According to Reuters, the newly launched agency will be headed by Francisco Echarren, who «said the industry could generate thousands of new jobs, as well as technological advancements and new products for export.»

«We face a huge challenge,» said Echarren, as reported by Reuters, «not only by establishing a new industry, but also by giving millions of Argentines access to products that improve their quality of life.»