Medical cannabis: after warning of "improper and abusive use," the government established a new regulatory framework.

The national government established a new regulatory framework for medical cannabis after warning of " improper and abusive use " of current regulations, according to the recitals of Resolution 1780/2025, published at midnight this Friday in the Official Gazette.

The measure, as explained in the regulations, seeks to correct "the adverse effects of the system as it is currently regulated" and promote "a reorganization of the regulatory framework relating to growers for therapeutic use ," in addition to considering "the figure of research projects that, in practice, have become a special and significant category."

Among the main changes promoted by the Ministry of Health, cultivation permits were redefined and four categories were established: "patients who grow their own crops, family members, authorized third parties, and civil organizations ." Within this framework, it was announced that the certificates will be valid for three years for the first group and one year for the remaining groups.

The document adds that it grants a period of "six months for those already registered and authorized to grow to adapt to the new requirements." Once this period has expired, those who do not comply will be deregistered, as they "would not meet the appropriate health standards for safe and efficient operations."

Furthermore, the regulation requires that permits granted to third parties be supervised by a Medical Director with verifiable expertise in the subject.

Specific requirements are also established for legal entities developing research projects under Law 27,350, which may apply for registration in the Cannabis Program Registry (Reprocann). With this update, the Ministry of Health, headed by Mario Lugones, stated that it seeks to strengthen "the social and medical-health spirit that motivated the law's passage."

This resolution was added to the requirements imposed in August of last year, when the Government established certain requirements for accessing medical cannabis with the "goal of strengthening controls and transparency."

At that time, former Health Minister Mario Russo stated that "NGOs responsible for cultivation must be registered and authorized by the corresponding registration and oversight body in each jurisdiction" and that they must notify "the municipality of the purpose of the civil association, which must have at least partly 'the health purpose and research into the medicinal use of the cannabis plant, its derivatives, and non-conventional treatments.'"

Furthermore, it was established that members of the boards of directors could not have a criminal record.

A mandatory requirement for applying for registration with Reprocann was also established: "a medical indication for the use of cannabis and its derivatives from a medical professional registered with the Federal Network of Registries of Health Professionals (REFEPS) and holding a diploma or master's degree in the medicinal use of the Medicinal Cannabis Plant."

At that time, the Reprocann permit was valid for three years, and NGOs were required to submit an annual certificate of validity issued by the relevant jurisdictional body.