Argentina approves medicinal use of marijuana

The Argentine Senate on 29 March 2017 gave final legislative approval to a bill that permits the medicinal use of marijuana.

The measure was accepted unanimously by the senators with 58 votes in favour.

The legislation had already obtained the green light from the Chamber of Deputies in November 2016.

The measure will become law once it is signed by President Mauricio Macri, whose Cambiemos party sponsored the bill.

With the approval, Argentina joins other Latin American nations such as Uruguay, Chile and Colombia, which have already approved measures regulating the therapeutic use of cannabis.

About cannabis

• Cannabis is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine.

• It is also known as marijuana.

• The main psychoactive part of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

• It can be used by smoking, vaporization, within food, or as an extract.

• It is also the most commonly used illegal drug in the world.

Therapeutic uses of cannabis

• Cannabis and its cannabinoids can be used to treat disease or improve symptoms; however, there is no single agreed upon definition.

• The medicinal use of cannabis has not been rigorously scientifically tested, often due to production restrictions and other federal regulations.

• There is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms.