Emilia vexler
03/02/2021 15:33
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 03/02/2021 4:14 PM
Alberto Fernández chose the opening of ordinary sessions in 2021 in Congress to announce the project that provides for the cultivation of cannabis for industrialization purposes for medicinal and industrial use.
Not recreational.
But "adult" use, as it is called in the jargon of these "green" laws, would not be far off.
Everything indicates that Argentina is following in the footsteps of Uruguay in the management of these plants.
Now, in the industrial.
The "cannabis plan" announced by the president is based on the fact that the medical cannabis industry in the world will triple the volume of business in the next five years.
Broadly speaking, the announcement implies that - always with the State as a partner - laboratories, cosmetics companies or small producers could get into this world.
He also points out that this new national industry is
a new way to bring dollars to the country
.
The first thing to understand is that the industrial cannabis project is not spontaneous, but is based on what has been achieved so far in the Ministry of Health of the Nation in terms of its
medicinal use
.
The new project brings two other ministries to the cannabis axis: Productive Development and Agroindustry.
"The Ministry (of Health) considers it strategic to expand it in a
medical and industrial cannabis bill
, because law 27,350 was totally insufficient to protect individual freedoms and ensure access, much less prioritize the value chain of the uses of
cannabis.
medicinal cannabis ", explains to
Clarín
Marcelo Morante, leader of the Cannabis Medical Research Program and an expert doctor in Pain Medicine.
Reversing this scenario "that fell short" was the first great challenge achieved in November 2020 by the current Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti.
It also set out to encourage national production through its laboratories located in the National Public Laboratories Agency (ANLAP), and approved
crop projects
in Misiones, San Juan, La Rioja, Río Negro and INTA Castelar.
All in conjunction with the Honorary Advisory Council, which works with NGOs -such as Mamá Cultiva-, the Network of Medicinal Uses (RACME) of CONICET, national universities and the National Institute of Seeds (INASE).
Then, patients who consume for medicinal reasons are no longer covered by criminal law.
Neither do those who cultivate at home for the same purpose and are registered.
The sale of oils and other derivatives of the plant in authorized pharmacies was also authorized.
Now the Government seeks to ensure a
quality product
"with due medical support."
But the plan would also create a
second category of products
, which are not pharmaceutical, medicinal, or home-grown.
For example, food, beverages, veterinary products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, phytopreparations or fibers.
With seal of the ANMAT.
As in Uruguay, medicinal cannabis is sold in pharmacies and
cannabis-infused herb
is on the shelves of any supermarket.
"Currently the Ministry of Health is working on a joint resolution with INASE to obtain national germplasm and with ANMAT to generate a new category of
cannabis-derived products
. This would lead to not having to import a seed from the United States, which let us have our national seed, to favor national production ", details Morante.
But the raw material produced entirely in our lands could also be exported.
"This would allow small producers to enter the game, in the north of the country, for example, who do not have the infrastructure or the millionaire investment to get into a cannabis pharmaceutical product but do in a cosmetic one.
Industrialization would allow adding value to all the productive chain
", continues the expert.
From the Argentine Chamber of Cannabis (ArgenCann) they told
Clarín
that the president's announcement is
"historic
.
"
"To boost the industry, it is urgent to move forward decisively and in a coordinated manner, openly contemplating the possibility of
exporting dried flower and the use of cannabis derivatives
-seeds, fibers, active ingredients-. This will only be possible with companies and entrepreneurs as exclusive leading actors. Argentina needs to give itself avant-garde regulation and align all State agencies to be able to fully develop this opportunity and make up for lost time, "said the president of that entity, Pablo Fazio.
ACE
Look also
Medicinal cannabis: the Government enables the importation of products but the registration for growers is not implemented
Marijuana crops, a film laboratory and 9 greenhouses: this is the first medical cannabis company in Argentina
