Not just German legislators are now deciding cannabis reform should be at the top of their political agenda for this year. In Argentina, an agreement reached between the ruling party et the opposition will put at minimum medical cannabis reform on the table.

Although the Chamber of Deputies has not met since this year, they have now decided to convene and continue to discuss cannabis reform. It will also include regulations for developing a framework that allows the establishment of medical marijuana and an industrial hemp sector.

This was an important development, which has been ongoing since July, last year. It had been proposed by national government but it was blocked later by opposition due to a lack agreement. 

This, of course, is far from an unusual situation—see the state of federal reform in the U.S. right now for exactly the same reason. 

Post-COVID Political Cannabis Football

Argentina will join the U.S. as well as Germany this year in prioritizing federal marijuana reform, despite any delays or stutters. The German media reported that the minister of health and other government officials were shifting their minds about the necessity to work on some form of recreational marijuana reform this summer.

In Argentina, cannabis normalization is slowing happening since 2009 when the Supreme Court made it illegal to possess marijuana for private purposes. The Argentine Senate approved medical marijuana oil in 2017. This was around the time that Germany mandated public healthcare coverage for medical cannabis. The 2020 Home Grown Act was also approved.

Countries are clearly watching each other right now on progressing the entire reform issue—no matter where they are in the process of cannabis acceptance. The proximate announcements made in the national legislatures from around the globe seem to indicate a worldwide trend. In other countries that have emerged from the pandemic, legalization or normalization is highly probable. Political leaders are desperate to identify development projects which can create jobs and tax revenue as well as positive impacts on the environment. 

Legalization of cannabis is an extremely popular policy. The support of the same lends credibility to a political system that is often hampered by partisan fighting in different countries. The consideration of the issue as well as passing legalization legislation gives these leaders credibility and suggests something they may actually be able achieve.

The end of the Latin American Drug War

Recent indications from multiple countries across Central and South America that these countries are planning to encourage the growth of this business (or considering it) are a significant step forward. Between the 1970s and well into this century, South America was the most important target for the U.S. during a civil war. Although it was not labelled such as such, many people were killed.

Uruguay, which was actually the first country to allow recreational reform in the world, was manipulated by the U.S. banks system to slow down the sector’s development for many years.

Even though federal reform of any type, even recreational, seems set to stall again in the U.S. Congress, it is clear that this conversation is not happening these days.

As developments take place in the U.S.A. and Germany, Argentina seems to be positioned on this topic. It makes sense. Argentina has the potential to produce a high-value export crop that can be exported to both countries.