Argentina Begins To Move Seriously On Medical Reform

The world’s eighth-largest country moves forward on legislation to create a federal industry.

Here is the interesting thing about sovereign cannabis reform – It is rather unsurprisingly beginning to reflect the national cultures that allow the same. How that begins to impact the international discussion is still a conversation in progress.

Here is one thing to be sure of about the decision of Argentina to begin to formalize the medical cannabis discussion on a federal basis.

This is the country that created the first animated feature film, the one with the highest number of plastic surgeries in the world and the one with the highest number of psychologists per capita. It is also the one that eats gnocchi on the 29th of every month.

In other words, prepare to be surprised. While certain aspects of reform look the same just about everywhere now adays, there are still going to be interesting riffs on a theme.

The Drug War is finally over, including in Latin America – and the Spanish twist to this tango is about to add to the entire debate in a way that has not been seen (yet) – and will reverberate in other countries (starting with Spain itself).

The Argentine Specifics

While the law is still in draft form and being revised by several agencies, here is what is shaping up as important elements of the same: The country will create a formal, provincial medical cannabis laboratory, continue to develop its user registry and set up an advisory council to set standards and guidelines for the therapeutic use of cannabis.

The other aspects of all of this, namely a plan to industrialize the production of cannabis and further how to prioritize “free” distribution to those who are the sickest, but none have been decided yet.

Regardless, the fact that all of this is on the table means the discussion is not only moving seriously, but likely to impact cannabis conversations in several other countries. That includes intercontinental Exim throughout Latin America. It also almost by definition includes Canada and Europe.

Don’t Cry for Me…

The forward development of the reform question is a good sign – especially in a country which has taken the slow boat to this entire conversation over the last few years. The patient registry got started last fall. It is clearly now part of federal plans on a much broader scale. And while it won’t happen tomorrow, reform is clearly not only on the table, but rolling forward slowly.

Be sure to book your seats now for the International Cannabis Business Conference when it comes back to Germany in July.