Argentina: deputies authorize medicinal cannabis oil

Argentine lawmakers yesterday passed a law authorizing the therapeutic use of cannabis oil with a medical prescription.

A game-changing study

This year, the National Bureau of Medicines, Food and Technology authorized 280 patients to use cannabis oil. To submit the bill to the Chamber of Deputies, the Bureau had to conduct an independent study to better understand the product and its effectiveness on various symptoms. Previous studies had proven to be futile and poorly informed. After six months, the researchers concluded that the cannabinoids were more effective than antiepileptic drugs and placebos given after chemotherapy.

Yesterday, lawmakers submitted a bill authorizing the medical use of cannabis. The 221 deputies unanimously voted to legalize therapeutic cannabis oil. It is now submitted to the Senate, which is expected to approve the text in 2017.

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The medical use of cannabis is already widespread in Argentina. Argentine patients and parents of patients are pushing for regulation for two reasons: one cannabis oil quality controlled by health authorities and, above all, a lower price per bottle of oil. Currently, 100 ml of oil costs 250$, or 3906 Argentine pesos. These desires can be understood when the average Argentine salary rises to 10,900 pesos. Furthermore, the artisanal oil bottles are made from homegrown plants. This includes that no one knows the exact dosage of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid effective against epilepsy, or THC.

Epilepsy in the spotlight

Dr. Silvia Kochen of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research states that 30% of epilepsy patients are resistant to anticonvulsant treatments and are not candidates for surgery. She advocates for the use of CBD treatments for both children and adults.

Suffering from epilepsy since the age of 10, Augusto is delighted with this decision. At 31 years old, his body has not responded to anticonvulsants for over 10 years. He has therefore been taking 6 ml of cannabis oil daily for 11 years, and can live a normal life.

«This is not a miracle cure. On the other hand, it will enhance our arsenal of medications that allow people to regain a relatively normal life,» states one of the instigators of this movement.

If the Assembly allows the use of medical cannabis, it does not permit self-cultivation and distribution of medicinal dried flowers. The Argentine State, however, will be able to cultivate the plants necessary for the manufacture of cannabis oil or import them.