Argentina Extends State Oversight of Hemp and Medical Cannabis Agency
President Javier Milei’s administration has renewed government intervention in Argentina’s hemp agency for an additional year to complete regulatory and administrative frameworks.
What happened
Argentina has formalized the extension of direct government control over the Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis Industry (ARICCAME). Per Decree 1147/2026, current administrator Ignacio Ferrari will continue leading the agency for another year. According to Hemp Today, the Milei administration cited unfinished administrative reforms as the primary reason for the extension, specifically noting a need to finalize supply-chain traceability and licensing protocols. This decision ensures that the Economy Ministry will continue to provide the agency with financial and administrative support.
Background
ARICCAME was created in 2022 to oversee the country's industrial hemp and medical cannabis sectors. Since September 2024, it has operated under direct state intervention. While President Milei’s administration tried to abolish the agency in mid-2025, those efforts were eventually blocked by Congress. Recently, the agency broadened the scope of hemp licenses to include biomass and non-psychoactive flowers with less than 1% THC, creating five-year permits for cultivation, research, and foreign trade.
Why it matters
Analysis: The continued state intervention may indicate that Argentina's hemp industry is undergoing a slower-than-expected transition to a fully independent regulatory model. While the expansion of licensing to include flowers and biomass could provide new revenue streams for producers, the ongoing administrative delays might hinder the speed of commercial growth and investment.
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