Medical Cannabis in Argentina
- Argentina has the Programa Nacional para el Estudio y la Investigación del Uso Medicinal de la Planta de Cannabis y sus Derivados y Tratamientos No Convencionales, under Law 27.350.
- There is a registry for medical cannabis (REPROCANN) which patients join, and the system allows for: prescriptions by doctors, possibly home cultivation under conditions, and obtaining medicinal cannabis preparations via pharmacies or “solidary growers.”
- Recent regulatory changes (2024) tightened some requirements: doctors prescribing under REPROCANN must be registered via the Federal Health Professionals Registry (REFEPS) and have training in medicinal cannabis.
Here is a breakdown of cannabis law and access in Argentina:
1. Legal Status of Cannabis
- Medical Use: Legal since 2017 (expanded significantly in 2020).
- Recreational Use:Prohibited. Possession, cultivation, and supply outside the regulated medical system are illegal and subject to penalties.
- Note on Decriminalization: A 2009 Supreme Court ruling (Fallo Arriola) has been interpreted to make penalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use unconstitutional, but this is often confusingly enforced and possession can still be punishable by prison sentences.
- Industrial Hemp: Legal and regulated under a separate framework.
2. Medical Cannabis Access (REPROCANN)
Access to medical cannabis is governed by the Registro del Programa de Cannabis (REPROCANN), which is a national registry for patients, doctors, and cultivators.
| Feature | Details |
| Eligibility | Any patient with a medical indication for cannabis use, as prescribed by a REPROCANN-registered physician. The use is allowed for any condition where there is scientific evidence of a therapeutic or palliative benefit. |
| How to Access | Patients can legally obtain cannabis derivatives through one of the following methods, all requiring registration in REPROCANN: |
| 1. Home Cultivation | The patient (as an “Autocultivador”) can grow cannabis at home. |
| 2. Third-Party Cultivation | A registered family member, legal representative, or third-party cultivator (“Cultivador Solidario”) can grow on behalf of the patient. (A recent change limits a “Cultivador Solidario” to representing only one patient, plus themselves if they are also a patient). |
| 3. Licensed Products | Purchase from authorized pharmacies (either as an imported specialty medicine or a compounded formula made in the pharmacy). |
| Doctor Requirements | Physicians who prescribe cannabis must be registered in the federal registry (REFEPS) and must have certified academic training/specialization in cannabis medicine. |
| Possession Limit | Registered patients have a legal limit for transport and possession, which includes: Up to 6 vials of 30ml of cannabis extract OR up to 40 grams of dried flowers. |
| Validity | Patient permits are generally valid for 3 years (other cultivator permits are valid for 1 year). |
