Argentina: Government enacts new decree for the Medicinal Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Industry

The government of Argentina enacted Decree 405/2023, which regulates Law N° 27.669, which establishes a “Regulatory Framework for the Development of the Medicinal Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Industry”. The resolution, published in the Official Gazette appoints the Regulatory Agency for Hemp and Medical Cannabis (ARICCAME) as the Managing and Enforcement Authority for the new legislation.

According to the decree, ARICCAME is authorized to create complementary or clarifying norms to guarantee the effective implementation of the legislation. The measure seeks to establish a clear and comprehensive structure for activities related to medicinal, veterinary, nutritional, cosmetic, industrial, health and plant fertility use, as well as for possible future uses resulting from scientific research and technological development.

The new regulation establishes separate categories for cannabis and its derivatives. “Psychoactive Cannabis” is defined as having a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content greater than 1% in dry weight, according to measurements certified by national standards and norms. In turn, “Hemp”, including “Industrial and/or Horticultural Hemp”, refers to cannabis plants and their parts, seeds and derivatives containing up to 1% THC, intended for industrial or horticultural purposes. The definition of “Cannabis Plant” covers all varieties of Cannabis Sativa L.

ARICCAME is responsible for regulating and supervising various aspects of the cannabis value chain, including storage, fractionation, transport, distribution and traceability of cannabis seeds, cannabis and its derivatives for medicinal, nutritional, cosmetic or industrial purposes. The regulation of the sector will be in charge of a group composed of several specialized public bodies, such as ANMAT, SENASA, INASE, INTA, INTI, AFIP and ANLAP.

The Argentine government's initiative to establish a regulatory framework for the medical cannabis and industrial hemp industry reflects growing recognition of the potential benefits of these products. The regulation, which aims to guarantee the quality, safety and efficacy of these products, at the same time promotes scientific research and technological development in the area. With this measure, Argentina joins a global trend of reviewing and reformulating policies related to cannabis and especially to hemp, through an approach that promotes responsibility and diversification in the sector.

Read the document approved by the Argentine Government here: