Latin America Cannabis Roundup: Argentina Advances Export Rules, Mexico Stalls

Argentina Export Framework Reaches Final Stage

Argentina's Ministry of Health submitted draft export regulations to the executive cabinet for final approval on July 8, positioning the country to authorize commercial cannabis shipments by September. The 47-page regulatory package, published in the official gazette Boletín Oficial, establishes quality standards aligned with European Pharmacopoeia protocols and creates a tiered licensing structure for cultivation, processing, and export operations.

Licensed producers can export cannabis flower, extracts, and pharmaceutical preparations to jurisdictions with legal import pathways. Minimum capital requirements start at 50 million pesos (approximately $52,000 USD) for cultivation licenses and scale to 200 million pesos for vertically integrated export operations.

Industry observers expect cabinet approval within 60 days. That clears the path for Argentina to compete directly with Uruguay and Colombia in supplying European medical markets. The timing aligns with growing demand from Germany's expanded medical program and Poland's pilot importation initiative.

Mexico Misses Supreme Court Deadline Again

Mexico's Congress failed to meet a July 9 constitutional deadline to enact federal cannabis legalization, the fourth such missed deadline since the Supreme Court's 2021 ruling declaring prohibition unconstitutional. The court's amparo decision in SCJN 237/2014 required legislative action by July 2026, but no cannabis bills advanced to floor votes in either chamber before the summer recess.

Senator Ana Lilia Rivera, chair of the Health Committee, told reporters July 10 that competing draft bills remain stalled over taxation disputes and home-cultivation limits. The Senate's version allows personal cultivation of six plants. The Chamber of Deputies' draft caps possession at five grams with no home-grow provision.

The legislative paralysis leaves Mexico's estimated 8 million cannabis users in legal limbo, with possession decriminalized by court order but no regulated supply chain.

Colombia Adjusts THC Limits for Domestic Products

Colombia's health regulator lowered the maximum THC concentration for domestically sold cannabis products from 1% to 0.3% effective July 6, aligning with international hemp definitions but restricting access to higher-potency medical formulations. The change, published in Resolution 2026-1147, doesn't affect export products, which can contain up to 30% THC under existing pharmaceutical export licenses.

The domestic cap applies to oils, tinctures, and topicals sold through pharmacies under Colombia's medical cannabis program. Patients requiring formulations above 0.3% THC must now obtain special authorization from treating physicians and regional health authorities, adding administrative friction to access.

Industry groups estimate the rule change affects approximately 12,000 registered patients currently using products between 0.3% and 5% THC. Export-focused operators remain unaffected, preserving Colombia's position as a leading supplier to Germany, Israel, and Australia.

Brazil Extends Public Comment Period on Cultivation Rules

Brazil's health agency ANVISA extended the public comment period for proposed cannabis cultivation regulations by 30 days to August 15, citing over 4,000 stakeholder submissions received since the draft's June publication. The proposed rules would authorize domestic cultivation for medical and research purposes, ending Brazil's current reliance on imported products.

A federal licensing system managed by ANVISA with oversight from the Ministry of Agriculture forms the draft framework's core. Licenses would be available to pharmaceutical companies, universities, and patient associations, with cultivation capped at 10,000 square meters per license in the initial phase.

Brazil's medical cannabis market reached $47 million in 2025, supplied entirely through imports from Canada, Portugal, and Uruguay. Domestic cultivation proponents argue local production could reduce patient costs by 40-60% while creating agricultural jobs in underutilized regions.

Chile Launches Pilot Pharmacy Distribution Program

Chile's Ministry of Health authorized 15 pharmacies in Santiago and Valparaíso to dispense cannabis-based medications starting July 8, the country's first retail distribution outside hospital settings. The pilot program, running through December 2026, allows pharmacies to stock up to 12 approved formulations ranging from 2.5% to 20% THC content.

Participating pharmacies must employ a licensed pharmacist trained in cannabis therapeutics and maintain secure storage meeting pharmaceutical-grade security standards. Patients access products through physician prescriptions registered in Chile's national health database.

The pilot expands access for Chile's estimated 18,000 registered medical cannabis patients, previously limited to hospital dispensaries in major urban centers. If successful, the Ministry plans nationwide pharmacy distribution by mid-2027.

Regional Policy Trajectories Diverge

Latin America's cannabis regulatory landscape is fragmenting, with export-focused frameworks advancing in Argentina and Colombia while domestic legalization efforts stall in Mexico and Brazil. The divergence reflects competing priorities: economic development through agricultural exports versus domestic social-justice reforms addressing prohibition's harms.

For U.S. importers and investors, the near-term opportunity sits in Argentina and Colombia's maturing export infrastructure. Both countries offer cost advantages over Canadian and European suppliers, with outdoor cultivation reducing production costs to $0.15-$0.25 per gram of dried flower compared to $0.80-$1.20 for indoor operations in colder climates.

Mexico's legislative paralysis continues to frustrate multinational operators who positioned for market entry following the 2021 Supreme Court ruling. The next legislative session begins September 1, but observers expect little movement before Mexico's 2027 midterm elections. For comprehensive updates on Latin American cannabis policy developments, see the CannIntel topic hub on Cannabis News Roundup.