Argentina’s Government Participated In First Legal Hemp Harvests In Half A Century

Starting in 2019, Argentina has made a big push to boost its domestic cannabis industry, particularly as it pertains to science and research. Back then, Argentina’s Ministry of Science and Technology signed an agreement with a local government, the National University, and other entities.

That was followed by a Presidential decree issued in 2020 which provided a way for medical cannabis patients to, in theory, sign up for a government program in order to be able to cultivate their own medicine.

In May 2022, lawmakers in Argentina passed a measure that created the framework for a more robust medical cannabis industry in the South American nation, including provisions for boosting exports around the world. Later in 2022, the government established a public company to provide seeds, testing, and training to the nation’s emerging medical cannabis industry.

Recently members of Argentina’s government participated in the nation’s first legal hemp harvests in half a century, marking another milestone for the nation. Per Hoy:

The Ministry of Agriculture, the National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa) and the National Seed Institute (Inase) participated in the first experimental harvests of industrial hemp on Argentine soil after 50 years, it was officially reported.

The cultivation practices are developed by the national company Industrial Hemp Solutions (IHS), within the possibilities offered by the new regulatory framework for medical cannabis and industrial hemp.

Late last year regulators in Argentina approved new cultivars for the nation’s industry, although it’s unclear what exact genetics were involved in the recent harvests. Hopefully harvests of hemp and non-hemp-categorized cannabis become more common in Argentina as time goes by.