Argentina on Wednesday launched the first working group of a new national agency to regulate and promote the country’s nascent cannabis industry, which ministers hope will create new jobs and exports, generating fresh income for the nation. “This opens the door for Argentina to start a new path in terms of industrial exports, on the basis of huge global demand,” said Economy Minister Sergio Massa in a conference launching the national hemp and cannabis agency, ARICCAME. Francisco Echarren, who will lead the agency, said the industry could generate thousands of new jobs, as well as creating technological developments and new products for export. In addition to regulating and promoting the cannabis industry, the Cannabis National Agency will also import, export, cultivate, produce, manufacture, and market seeds and cannabis for health and industrial purposes. The decree also allowed pharmacies to sell products derived from cannabis, and ordered insurers to cover marijuana-based medications for patients with a prescription.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald January 27, 2023 03:30 UTC