Argentina's first medical cannabis production center gets the green light from the government

Argentina legalized cannabis production for research purposes in 2017. Until now, medical cannabis (in the form of oil) was imported but domestic cultivation should soon begin, as the government has just authorized Argentina's first medical cannabis production center. The latter is the fruit of a joint venture between JuJuy provincial government cannabis agency and foreign company Players Network.

A first domestic production

The production center is located in the province of JuJuy in northern Argentina. The government of this province was immediately enthusiastic about the idea of growing cannabis, and has even set up his own cannabis agency, Cannabis Avatãra, approved by the federal government. Last August, the governor requested approval from the Ministry of Security to launch production. The Ministry had the security system inspected by the national gendarmerie. As the system was extremely strict, with a large number of armed guards, it was indeed approved.

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«Based on an exhaustive technical analysis carried out by specialists from the federal forces, it has been concluded that the facility complies with the necessary safety standards and legal constraints imposed at national and provincial level,» states Argentina's Ministry of Security. Production is therefore about to begin. The seeds will start germinating this week for a period of two months, and the first oil production is scheduled for the second half of 2019.

Located on the «Finca del Pongo» near the village of Perico, the cultivation fields extend over 14,000 hectares outdoors. The cultivation, production and distribution of medical cannabis will be handled in collaboration with Cannabis Avatãra and the group's subsidiary Players Network, Green Leaf Farm South America. 

However, the national media Telam reports that the oil produced will be used for scientific and medical studies, and it is not known whether patients will have access to it. The latter are already impatient at still not having access to the drug after almost two years of legalization. Many of them call for self-cultivation and some even get the right to grow their own cannabis in court. Recently, mothers took the government to court over the program's delays. The federal judge ordered to implement the medical cannabis program within six months.