Medical cannabis law in Argentina, what good is legislation without implementation!?

Cannabis activists and entrepreneurs are reminding the government that the deadlines for regulating the Law on Access to Medicinal Cannabis have been met, yet the legislation taken by the government has serious gaps that need to be addressed.

Organizations belonging to the Front of Cannabis Organizations of Entre Ríos (Focer) are calling for the “urgent” regulation of the Law on Access to Medicinal, Therapeutic and/or Palliative Cannabis in Entre Ríos, No. 10.894.

Entre Rios Cannabis Legislation Leaves Important Gaps

The Law on Access to Medicinal Cannabis in Entre Ríos was passed on 6 May this year, after unanimous votes in both chambers, and was published in the Official Gazette on 21 May. Yet action on its various measures are lagging behind.

The law enables the sale in pharmacies of magistral formulations prepared there, and provides for users to have the autonomy to access cannabis through self-cultivation. For these access routes to work, however, patients are awaiting the implementation of the registry for self-cultivators and the registry for pharmacies.

Furthermoe the law establishes comprehensive and mandatory training for state workers on cannabis. As detailed in article 18 of the law, the enforcement authority “shall convene an interdisciplinary group composed of specialists and representatives of civil society organizations to provide mandatory training on cannabis for all persons working in public service at all levels and hierarchies in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of the Province, including the Public Ministry (Prosecutor and Defence) and Autarchical Entities”. Guess how much has been done towards that goal?

In addition, article 24 attempts to resolve the lack of information on the quality of medicinal cannabis derivatives. The testing of oils is guaranteed as a right for users who need accurate information on the compounds present in cannabis plant preparations. And yet, implementation on testing procedures, training and even labeling has yet to be brought up to even the minimum level required by the bill!

Campaigning for cannabis law implementation and regulation in Entre Rios in Argentina

Activists have launched a campaign called #ReglamentaciónYa to push for the regulation of a law that is considered a breakthrough for the province and the country. The organizations denounce the inaction of the executive authorities in this field and the fact that the stipulated deadlines have expired.

More than five months after the passing of the Law of Accessibility to Cannabis for Medicinal, Therapeutic and/or Palliative Pain Relief Purposes in Entre Ríos, and after more than three months have passed since the 60-day deadline stipulated by the law itself for its implementation, the organizations that make up the Front of Cannabis Organizations of Entre Ríos are demanding the “immediate implementation and regulation of the law with the participation of social organizations in a working group”.

They also demand: “Urgent training for security forces and judicial officials as provided for in the Entre Ríos law on cannabis and rights. For an end to the persecution of users and growers registered in REPROCANN”.

Similarly, they are demanding the establishment of a 50% quota of production licenses for small and medium-sized producers included in the law (cooperatives and mutuals) for the production of medicinal, therapeutic or pain-palliative cannabis.

Other demands are that free chromatographic testing be guaranteed as stipulated in the law through inter-institutional coordination; that employment and production policies be implemented to generate youth employment within the cannabis industry in Entre Ríos; and the development of public policies for the promotion and free training programmes for the agro-ecological production of medical cannabis.

The Front of Cannabis Organisations of Entre Ríos is made up of: -Efecto Séquito AC (former Agrupación Paranaense de Agricultorxs Cannábicxs – APAC); annabis Medicinal Concordia (CAMECO); Cultivadores Terapéuticos de la Costa del Río Uruguay (CUTECOUR); Cooperativa (awaiting registration) Cultivos en Red; Agrupación de Cultivadores de Entre Ríos (ACER); Fundación Yvyra Kuña and Asociación Pensamiento Penal.

(Featured image by Enecta Cannabis extracts via Unsplash)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in unoentrerios, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.