The right to health is at stake Doubts about the announcement of the registration of persons licensed to cultivate cannabis

Reprocan is not “a registration register for cannabis producers,” as stated by presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni, but rather “for persons licensed to carry out controlled cultivation for medical and/or therapeutic purposes.” This program, which was established by ministerial decision in 2021 within the framework of a national law, is based on the need for thousands of patients who have obtained a license to grow up to nine cannabis plants. An interested person can do this, and can appoint another person or a non-profit civic association. As is clear, they are not “producers” but patients, and they must also present a medical indication (they have attended consultations with specialists in their pathology to receive treatment).

The Ministry of Health is the one that reviews and approves every requirement. There is nothing new in Adorni’s words when he says that “registration requirements have begun to be reviewed” within the framework of the audit of the aforementioned portfolio. Unless what you want is to directly change the requirements, which were agreed upon and completed months ago by the previous administration with an honorary advisory board made up of civil society organizations. One of the keys to Reprocann was improving accessibility. It's worth remembering.

On the other hand, the spokesman added more confusion by denouncing: “It turned out that in the previous administration, 90,000 requests were issued without a diagnosis based on scientific evidence.” The Ministry does not issue requests, but rather receives them, processes them, and decides whether to approve them or not. Therefore, it is not clear whether Adorny is referring to the people who initiated the process or those who had already received the mandate: a universe of about 300,000 people. The right to health of all these people and others awaiting licensure is at risk, so more clarity and knowledge on this topic would be appreciated.

Emilio Roshansky is a member of the Center for Studies of Cannabis Culture.