News blog, September 2020

It's already September and we're getting closer and closer to the US presidential elections! While we analyze what role the plant will play in the voters, this month we have had some surprising news such as the drone in Tel Aviv and the cannabis treatment for elephants in Warsaw. We also have some not so satisfactory information such as the delay in the publication of the regulation on the use of medical cannabis in Mexico. To go deeper into this topic we recommend you to visit our special blog: Where is Mexico currently on the cannabis issue? Now, let's take a brief look at what's new in Latin American countries.

Ecuador: A great alternative in difficult economic context

According to the Ministry of Production, the Ecuadorian economy has lost $6114 million dollars due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, specialists insist that cannabis is a potential sector for the recovery and economic reactivation of the country. [1] 

One of the company's major commitments is the articulation with the food industry, as evidenced by the growth of companies such as Mayu Ecuador, Santa María Beer, The Vegan Spot and Health Store. Among the most profitable products are: chocolates,hamburgers (hemp burger), banana bread, energy bars and jams. "We have identified international demand and market trends. With this, we are able to create opportunities and advise those who decide to do so," said José Antonio Dávalos, president of the Ecuadorian Association of Medicinal and Industrial Hemp. [2] 

During the last week of August, the National Assembly approved the Organic Health Code (COS). According to statements made by William Garzón (president of the Health Commission), the recent regulatory modification was driven by three axes: obstetric emergency, assisted human reproduction and medical cannabis. [3] Regarding the latter, it was agreed that medicines based on the plant will comply with the following requirements: 

  • Substance control

  • Special recipes

  • Establishments, prescribers and authorized pharmaceutical services 

  • Specific pathologies

Although the COS does not detail items corresponding to self-cultivation, it is essential to remember that these are found in the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP), which was approved in 2019 and entered into force on June 21 of this year. The reform to articles 220 and 222, and the complementation of article 127:

  1. Decriminalizes the planting, harvesting and cultivation of medical cannabis. 

  2. It recognizes three types of plants: [4] 

  1. Industrial hemp with a low production cost.

  2. CBD of high productive cost.

  3. CBD greenhouse of high productive cost, risk and profitability. 

Peru: Two significant steps for medical cannabis

At the beginning of 2020, the Peruvian cannabis industry stood out due to the shortcomings of Law No. 30681: standard doses, delays in authorization by the Integrated Health Directorate (Diris), uniformity of the Single Text of Administrative Procedures (TIPA), bureaucratic delays and lack of authorization for the activity of corporations such as Cann Farm. [5] Although -to date- the government has not been able to fully satisfy the needs of the sector, the third quarter of the year began with a couple of good news: 

In the first week of September, Cannabis Gotas de Esperanza and the Peruvian Federation of Medicinal Cannabis (Fecame) presented an initiative to legalize self-cultivation, in order to guarantee the right to health for all population groups and to streamline the responsibilities of the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (Digemid). 

In addition, at the end of the month it was announced that Universal and Vanttive are two of the 14 pharmacies that obtained a license for the commercialization of medical cannabis. [6] It should be noted that these establishments are obliged to comply with the regulations under which Digemid operates, i.e.:

  • Sale of a standard product: 10 ml of Cannabis sativa extract with 0.5% CBD and 0.04% THC.

  • To access the treatment, one must be registered in the Ministry of Health's National Registry of Medicinal Cannabis Patients. According to official figures, by August 2020, this database had an estimated 7,267 patients. 

Argentina: Still on the medical cannabis map!

Throughout this year, Argentina has established itself as a potential market for the development and growth of cannabis in Latin America. September is no exception. At the beginning of the month, the authorities of the municipality of Tigre approved a bill that regulates the production, research and access to medical cannabis. 

Said document was presented in 2019 and promoted by Florencia Mosqueda, Javier Parbst (both Frente de Todos councilmen), local non-governmental organizations ( NGOs) and experts from the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). Its content recognizes and establishes: [7]

  1. The need to expand the list of conditions that can be treated with medical cannabis. Among them: epilepsy, degenerative diseases, cancer (and the reduction of side effects caused by chemotherapy), HIV, autism, West Syndrome, chronic pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress. 

  2. Municipal responsibility for the promotion of research and support to public laboratories.

  3. Creation of a Registry of Solidarity Growers, Cannabis Growers and Cannabis Families. 

In addition to this project, Congresswoman Roxana López (also from Frente de Todos) is working together with the activists of Cultivating Hope on an initiative that emphasizes the link between security and human rights, hence the insistence on the training of Public Health System personnel. 

This initiative was discussed in the company of Valeria Salech (Mamá Cultiva), Laura Mieres, Ana María Schapert (Cultivando Esperanza), Carlos Magdalena (Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez), María Laura Ramírez (Health Commission) and Roxana Poggiolini (Cultivando Conciencia) during a session in mid-August. In this regard, Schapert commented the following: "We are not a group of crazy mothers who decided one day to make their oil. We know the consequences of psychiatric medication to our children and that is why we want to come up with this alternative (...) we want to reach all the families who are in need and empower others," said the activist in an interview given to Periódico Para Todos. [8]

Physician Network

Part of ICAN's efforts include articulating a Network of Doctors trained in the use and prescription of medical cannabis for patients in Mexico. We invite you to visit our Physician and Veterinarian Directories.

References 

[1] EFE. (2020). Ecuador incursiona en la comida elaborada con cannabis. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 21 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[2] s/a. (2020). Industria del cáñamo se plantea como alternativa para dinamizar la economía. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[3] s/a (2020). Asamblea Nacional aprueba el Código de la Salud que define la emergencia obstétrica, uso terapéutico del cannabis y reproducción humana asistida. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[4] La Cosecha (2020.) Normativa para el cultivo del cannabis medicinal en Ecuador. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[5] Paucar, J. (2020). Demoras burocráticas impiden acceso real a medicamentos cannabinoides. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[6] García, A. (2020). Más farmacias obtienen licencias para vender cannabis medicinal. Recuperado de <sitio web>. última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[7] Castro, L. (2020). En Tigre aprobaron el cultivo de marihuana para uso medicinal. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020. 

[8] Redacción Periódico Para Todos. (2020). ‘Cultivando Esperanza Tigre’ presentó un proyecto de ordenanza de uso medicinal del cannabis. Recuperado de <sitio web>, última consulta 28 de septiembre de 2020.

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News blog, October 2020