Vandalized traffic light in Rosario

Cannabis in Argentina is regulated by the Penal Code of Argentina, which prohibits its possession, cultivation, and supply, except for authorized medical purposes.[1][2][3] Official statistics estimate that cannabis is used by 7.8% of Argentina's population.[4]

Medical cannabis was legalized in 2017.[5] Regulations have evolved over time, and as of January 2024, authorized patients may possess and cultivate cannabis, and there is a licensing system for the supply of medical cannabis.[6][7]

However, in a 2021 survey, nearly five of six Argentinian cannabis users said their use was more recreational than medicinal.[4] Possession without medical authorization is punishable by a prison sentence of between one month and six years,[1][2] despite a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that enforcement of the law is unconstitutional.[8][9] Cultivation, trafficking, supply, and related activities outside the regulated medical cannabis system attract more severe penalties.[2]

Medical cannabis has been legal in Chubut since September 23, 2016,[10] and in Santa Fe since November 30, 2016.[11]

On March 29, 2017, the Argentine senate approved the medical use of CBD cannabis oil,[12][13][14] and was promulgated on September 22, 2017.[5] On 12 November 2020, President Alberto Fernández signed a decree legalizing the self-cultivation and regulating the sales and subsidized access of medical cannabis, expanding upon the 2017 bill.[15] In August 2023, the regulatory agency responsible for licensing the production and trade of cannabis derivatives was formally launched.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Por qué se celebra hoy el Día Mundial de la Marihuana y qué significa el término 420 para la cultura cannábica" [Why Global Marijuana Day is celebrated today and what 420 means to cannabis culture]. Página 12 (in Spanish). 2023-04-20. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  2. ^ a b c "Codigo Penal" [Penal Code]. Ley No. 23.737 of 10 October 1989 (in Spanish). National Congress of Argentina.
  3. ^ "Cannabis medicinal" [Medicinal cannabis]. Argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). Government of Argentina. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  4. ^ a b "En el país hay más de un millón y medio de usuarios de cannabis" [There are more than 1.5 million cannabis users in the country]. Página 12 (in Spanish). 2021-08-28. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  5. ^ a b "El Gobierno reglamentó la ley de cannabis medicinal" [The government regulated the medical cannabis law] (in Spanish). Infobae. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b "El Gobierno reglamentó la Ley de Cannabis: "es de vanguardia en el mundo"" [The Government regulated the Cannabis Law: "it is at the forefront in the world".]. Página 12 (in Spanish). 2023-08-07. Archived from the original on 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  7. ^ "Cannabis medicinal" [Medicinal cannabis]. Argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). Government of Argentina. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  8. ^ TNI. "Argentina - Drug Law Reform in Latin America". Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Argentina court ruling decriminalizes marijuana and makes personal use a constitutional right". New York Daily News. 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  10. ^ Por primera vez una provincia argentina habilitó el uso de marihuana medicinal
  11. ^ Es Ley el uso medicinal del aceite de cannabis
  12. ^ Argentina Medical Cannabis Law Approved, but Not Without Criticism. April 3, 2017. TalkingDrugs.
  13. ^ Argentina Legalizes Medical Marijuana[permanent dead link]. By Tihomir Gligorevic. April 2, 2017. InSerbia News.
  14. ^ "Argentine Senate approves medical use of cannabis oil". The Washington Post. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-30.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Hasse, Javier (12 November 2020). "Argentina Regulates Medical Cannabis Self-Cultivation, Sales, Subsidized Access". Forbes. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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