Argentine government wants to revoke all medical cannabis cultivation permits

Javier Milei's Argentine government, under the auspices of the Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, announced its intention to revoke all permits granted for the medical cannabis cultivation.

In a recent statement, Bullrich directly accused the registered cannabis growers as part of the Cannabis Program Registry (REPROCANN) to supply the illegal cannabis market.

«Drugs that reach the Greater Buenos Aires will undoubtedly come in part from outside, but a large part is also due to what they have done. We have enacted the law on the medical marijuana. »They registered 300,000 people who were allowed to grow medical cannabis. Do you know how many of them have already been drawn into the illegal drug market? 90,000,” she said in an interview with Radio Mitre, as reported by La Nación.

However, no official data has been provided to support these figures.

Government Contradictions

While Ms. Bullrich's statements suggest a abolition plain and simple REPROCANN, the presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni tried to soften the blow by presenting the measure as a «reworking» rather than a complete shutdown.

«REPROCANN (...) has clearly strayed from its (...) original objective, which was in fact the medical marijuana and not a diversion to the small-scale drug trafficking », Mr. Adorni said during a press conference at the Casa Rosada.

Despite Mr. Adorni's statements, some legal experts have expressed concerns about the constitutionality of revoking registrations without legislative approval. Juan Palomino, an expert in cannabis law, warned that an executive decision of this magnitude could lead to a wave of lawsuits.

«Revoke all registrations without going through the Conference »would constitute an abuse of the executive branch's regulatory authority," he explained.

Impact on Patients and the Medical Cannabis Industry

The framework of the medical cannabis in Argentina, which has been gradually expanded since 2017, has enabled the patients people with conditions such as ‘epilepsy, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis to legally grow or purchase cannabis-based treatments. With the impending cancellation of REPROCANN, thousands of these patients are facing the’uncertainty.

«The closure of REPROCANN could force thousands of patients to turn to the illegal market, », producing the opposite effect of the one the minister claims to be fighting," said the Dr. Alexis Engel, a surgeon with a postgraduate degree in cannabis, highlighting the unintended consequences of the government's crackdown.

Beyond patients, the’medical cannabis industry Argentina is also facing turbulence. The National Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medical Cannabis Industry, established in 2022 to oversee operations legal issues related to cannabis could find themselves in a situation of regulatory uncertainty. Companies involved in the cultivation, research, and distribution of cannabis-based products could see their operations disrupted or significantly altered.

A political weapon?

Ms. Bullrich’s rhetoric has met with resistance from cannabis advocates and industry professionals, who accuse her of using the debate on medical cannabis as a political tool. Ivana, from @welegal.arg, a well-known cannabis advocate, responded directly to the minister in a video: «I can’t imagine Pablo Escobar worrying about whether he’ll be approved for the REPROCANN process.»

She also criticized Bullrich for describing medical cannabis as a «drug disguised as medicine,» arguing that the therapeutic benefits of cannabis are well documented.

«You equate a drug dealer with someone who needs cannabis to live a better life, and you use a noble cause to attack your opponents, trivializing access to medicine,» she added.

Will There Be a Change in Drug Policy Under Milei?

The position of the President Javier Milei on the cannabis regulation remains somewhat ambiguous. Milei has already expressed his support for the drug legalization, arguing that consumption is a personal choice in which the government does not need to intervene. However, its administration’s decision to dismantle REPROCANN signals a change in policy.

Bullrich reinforced this position by drawing comparisons between the Argentine cannabis market and the Uruguayan regulated system.

«THC—the substance that alters your neurology– is 18 % in Argentina, whereas the one that is legal in Uruguay is accepted up to 2% [Editor's note: This is obviously incorrect; it actually amounts to 20%.]. It's like a genetically modified soybeans », she said during a television interview.

These comments contrast with the scientific consensus that THC levels do not determine à only them the risks or impacts of cannabis use. Its critics believe that his statements reflect a lack of understanding of the cannabis science and risk reduction policies.

The next steps in the The government's plans remain unclear. Will there be a gradual reform to eliminate vulnerabilities, or thousands of patients and registered growers Will they suddenly find themselves together? criminalized ? What is certain is that this decision has plunged Argentina's medical cannabis industry into uncertainty, raising concerns about access to treatment, legal certainty, and the future of cannabis regulation in the country.