Legality of Cannabis by U.S. Jurisdiction

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[edit]

  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.