Argentina to authorize the sale of cannabis in pharmacies and home cultivation

Yesterday, Argentina's Minister of Health presented a plan to authorize the cultivation of cannabis at home and the sale of medical cannabis in pharmacies. The measure will also guarantee free access to medical cannabis for all patients, regardless of their medical coverage.

Argentina has officially legalized medical cannabis in 2017, However, the current law only authorized cannabis oil for refractory epilepsy in children, failing to cover the needs of patients who continued to rely on the illicit market when they were not left without treatment.

With this new regulation, the Argentine federal government will allow personal cannabis cultivation for all patients, researchers or consumers who register with the country's national cannabis program, REPROCANN. Personal information about growers will remain anonymous. Limits on the number of plants authorized per person have not yet been defined.

The law will authorize Also, the production of cannabis active ingredients, creams and oils in pharmacies participating in the program. Thanks to this measure, people who are not part of REPROCANN will be able to obtain cannabis-based medicines in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription.

Patients in the latter category must have an identified pathology, the list of which has not yet been published.

Argentina will also begin drawing up a national plan for cannabis production. Research and development at universities, laboratories and research institutes will be prioritized, along with incentives to help cannabis production from public laboratories.

With a population of over 44 million, Argentina is one of Latin America's biggest markets for cannabis. Neighbouring Brazil announced a similar measure last year. Colombia now leads the region in terms of regulatory development and business presence.