While more than 200 license applications to grow industrial hemp have been submitted under Argentina’s new regulatory system, only 40 have been granted so far, according to the government, with little publicly available information about distribution by province.
The Industrial Hemp Commission shared the data during the second 2025 plenary session of the Medical and Industrial Cannabis Network (RACME), which operates under CONICET, Argentina’s national scientific and technical research council. The session signals growing interest in hemp’s agronomic, biochemical, and commercial potential, and helps strengthen collaboration between scientific, industrial, and regulatory stakeholders, the Commission said.
The Commission, a working group within the RACME, presented progress under Joint Resolution No. 1/2025, a measure issued by the cannabis regulatory agency ARICCAME and the National Seed Institute (INASE) earlier this year. The resolution simplifies the registration process for hemp varieties cultivated for fiber and grain, eliminating the need for prior authorization for the Property Registry and streamlining cultivar submissions to the National Cultivar Registry.
Gut check
The update came as RACME gathered to assess scientific, legal, and regulatory developments across Argentina’s rapidly evolving cannabis sector. The Commission noted more than 120 research presentations were made during last month’s International Congress on Industrial Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis, highlighting growing momentum for hemp as a strategic crop. The event brought together stakeholders from scientific, medical, and industrial backgrounds.
“This kind of coordination between science and industry is critical for building a sustainable and evidence-based production chain,” said Silvia Kochen, a leading researcher in RACME. She emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between communities, scientific institutions, and government agencies to ensure both industrial and medical cannabis development moves forward in a responsible and integrated way.
The plenary session also reviewed Resolution 1780/2025, published in the Official Gazette on May 22, which strengthens oversight of medical cannabis activities under the Cannabis Program Registration System (REPROCANN). Researchers raised concerns that the regulation’s language appears to narrowly apply to clinical trials, potentially excluding basic research projects. They agreed to submit clarifying proposals through RACME.
Slowly maturing
Meanwhile, Argentina’s broader regulatory framework for cannabis continues to mature. In January, ARICCAME enacted a Sanctioning Procedure Regulation establishing penalties for non-compliance with licensing terms, including fines, suspensions, and license revocation. The rules reinforce due process and underscore the agency’s intent to uphold transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout the sector. These measures build on previous policies that legalized hemp in 2022 and set the national THC limit at 1.0%, aligning Argentina with leading global hemp producers.
Despite advances in industrial hemp regulation, some stakeholders remain frustrated by gaps in implementation. The Legal Commission of RACME expressed concern over delayed responses from INASE regarding cultivar registration for Cannabis sativa L. varieties, and a lack of clarity that is preventing plant breeders from advancing. The group is compiling legal documents and rulings into a centralized public archive to support NGOs, patients, and legal professionals navigating the system.
In addition to regulatory matters, RACME members discussed research infrastructure. They reaffirmed the need for greater legal certainty to sustain investment in science, technology, and innovation—core mandates of CONICET and its affiliated technology arm, Cannabis CONICET, created in 2023 to drive the industrial and medical cannabis sectors.
Tight rules for CBD
While Argentina’s cannabis strategy includes both medical and industrial uses, access to key compounds remains tightly controlled. Notably, not only THC but also CBD is regulated by the Department of Substances Subject to Special Control (DSSCE) under ANMAT, Argentina’s national drug authority. Scientific institutions and laboratories must register with DSSCE in order to conduct research or transport controlled substances, including non-psychoactive cannabinoids.
As the government pushes forward with its whole-plant hemp strategy, officials say the crop could play a key role in replacing tobacco, revitalizing rural economies, and supporting health and environmental innovation. Still, much work remains to ensure that regulation, enforcement, and scientific advancement stay in sync to unlock the sector’s full potential.