Argentina: self-cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes advances city by city

The municipality of Rosario, Argentina, has established a registry for the cultivation of Cannabis for therapeutic use, which will allow patients or caregivers to grow their own medication without fear of criminal penalties. Earlier this year, the city of Santa Fe rolled out the same system.

Since the Argentine Congress passed Law 27350, which establishes a regulatory framework for medical and scientific research on the medical use of cannabis and its derivatives, many provinces across the country and various municipalities have launched their own initiatives on the subject.

The coronavirus pandemic has delayed the national political debate that was scheduled to take place in the coming months on the reform of the regulations under Law 27,350, and who was considering growing his own food. In the same context, the analysis of’the possible legalization of cannabis has been postponed.

The ordinance passed by the Rosario City Council will lead to the creation of an enforcement agency and an Advisory Council on Cannabis and Cannabis Derivatives Policy, which will develop the criteria and protocols necessary for implementing the registry.

The newly established Advisory Council will set the registration requirements, review registration applications, and issue a certificate of registration to those who register. Medical cannabis users, growers who cultivate on behalf of others, and civil society organizations dedicated to this issue that engage in the cultivation and/or production of cannabis derivatives will be registered.

Although this ordinance does not amend Argentina’s drug laws, it legitimizes and provides legal support for the work of these organizations, their patients, and the growers in a specific area.

This initiative, presented by the Ciudad Futura / FSP, is the result of a long-term effort by civil society organizations dedicated to medical cannabis, notably AUPAC, the Association of Cannabis Users and Professionals, which have been calling for public health policies to ensure equitable access to the plant’s benefits. Since its founding in 2017, AUPAC has advised thousands of patients on their journey with medical cannabis.

«We have been putting our knowledge, our expertise, our efforts, and our flowers to work for universities, lawmakers, and the community for many years. That is why we are celebrating this «small but significant» step today,» said declared a spokesperson for AUPAC.

«It is the cannabis organizations—not the war on drugs—that have established partnerships with various public institutions, such as the university, preventing thousands of people, including residents of our city, from being swindled by products from the illegal market or falling through the cracks. We receive referrals daily from health centers, neighborhood organizations, public hospitals, and geriatric care facilities.»