Malbec and Medical Cannabis: Have Them Both in Argentina

Home | Canna Law Blog | Malbec and Medical Cannabis: Have Them Both in Argentina Recently, in Cannabis is Coming! The Latest on Colombia and Mexico, we wrote about legislative initiatives regarding cannabis in two of Latin America's most important economies. Today we turn our attention to another of the region's traditional powerhouses, Argentina, which is seeing developments not just at the national level, but also in its provinces and even cities. Medical cannabis was legalized in Argentina in 2017, but inadequacies in the accompanying regulatory framework meant many users need to turn to the black market to obtain products. The national government is currently working on new regulations that will, among other things, allow home cultivation. In the meantime, some Argentinean localities are also working on their own cannabis legislation. For instance, in Mendoza, a bill has been introduced in the provincial chamber of deputies to "regulate ... scientific research and the medicinal and therapeutic use of the cannabis plant and its derivatives." The bill specifically provides for the adoption by the provincial health system of the use of cannabis oil for the treatment of numerous ailments. Mendoza is well known for its wines, and the dry climate that makes it a viticulture powerhouse could also be ideal for cannabis crops as well. Interestingly, the bill's sponsor, José María Videla Sáenz, is a 13th generation winegrower. At the city level, Santa Fe recently passed an ordinance to regulate medical cannabis use. The ordinance provides for the establishment of a voluntary registry of growers, paving the way for home cultivation, something the Mendoza provincial legislation did not do. Santa Fe's provincial senate (Santa Fe is the capital of the eponymous province) is also considering its own cannabis bill. During the lower chamber's debate on the bill, a legislator brought a cannabis plant into the chamber. If this sounds familiar, it's because the same thing happened in Mexico recently. Will a U.S. representative copy the plant antic when the House debates the MORE Act? My money is on Matt Gaetz. Check Out Our Cannabis Law Services Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn E-mail Comment Fred Rocafort Fred leads Harris Sliwoski’s intellectual property practice and is the coordinator of the firm’s international team. Much of Fred’s practice consists of helping cannabis businesses protect their brands. He also works with entrepreneurs and companies entering the Web3 space, a new frontier for IP law. Prior to joining Harris Sliwoski, Fred worked overseas for more than a decade, in both government and private sector roles. Fred is a regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and Canna Law Blog. Fred began his career overseas as a U.S. consular officer in Guangzhou, China, where he advocated for fairer treatment of American companies and citizens in China and for stronger intellectual property rights enforcement. After entering the private sector, Fred worked at a Shanghai law firm as a foreign legal advisor and later joined one of the oldest American law firms in China, helping foreign companies navigate the Chinese legal environment. He also led the legal team at a Hong Kong-based brand protection consultancy, spending most of his time out in the field, protecting clients against counterfeiters and fraudsters in Greater China, Southeast Asia and Latin America. In addition to his IP work, as a native Spanish speaker, Fred works closely with different Harris Sliwoski teams on Latin America and Spain matters. Fred also provides advice to cannabis industry participants and other businesses on import and export transactions. Fred is an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona—and would be even in the absence of Catalan forebears who immigrated to Puerto Rico in the mid-1800s. Harris Sliwoski Attorney Read more posts [email protected] Read More International Cannabis Law, Medical Marijuana Related Posts September 25, 2026 DEA Enforcement in a Changing Cannabis Landscape: Rescheduling, Hemp, and What Comes Next September 17, 2026 The Supreme Court May Decide if Cannabis-Related Residency Requirements are Unconstitutional September 16, 2026 A $31.8 Million Cannabis-Related Verdict That a Federal Court Wouldn’t Enforce September 15, 2026 Jason Adelstone Moderates Federal Cannabis Policy Discussion at IgniteIt Denver September 11, 2026 Medical Marijuana in Schedule III Survives Its First Major Challenge September 10, 2026 How to Acquire a Colorado Cannabis License September 4, 2026 The Intoxicating Hemp Products Ban Was Delayed a Month. Now What? 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