In a rapid process without debate and by unanimity, the bill that already had the approval of the Chamber of Deputies , was approved by the affirmative vote of the 58 senators present.
The standard seeks to " guarantee free access to hemp oil and other derivatives" of the plant, to all those patients who join a national program for the study and research of cannabis use .
The initiative promotes the public production of cannabis and allows the importation of oil for patients with medical indication, but does not contemplate the self-cultivation, a claim of families who treat their children with this product.
"Time was right, it's a perfectible law, but we got to the beginning," said Valeria Salech of the organization Mam Cultiva , her voice broken by emotion after the vote, while other mothers hugged and applauded the news.
The law establishes a regulatory framework for medical and scientific research on the use of the medicinal, therapeutic and pain palliative plant and empowers the Ministry of Health to provide the drug free of charge to patients with refractory epilepsy, autism or other pathologies.
- Dream fulfilled -
Maria Laura Alasi , Josefina's mother, a 4- year-old girl who at 7 months was diagnosed with West's syndrome - a rare disease that turned into refractory epilepsy - expressed her "immense joy" for "sleep fulfilled ."
"Before we had no life, was to fight the disease, we always ended up losing because Josefina ended with 300 seizures daily, with 10 pills (...).Josefina had no life and the whole family around her had no life.The Cannabis gave us back our life, we returned the smile of Josefina, the look, showed us really Josefina, "Alasi told AFP.
Alasi added that "although it is a law that does not contemplate self-cultivation, and there are many mothers who are cultivating, I have faith that the senators will find some return."
Salech recalled the case of Adriana Funaro , detained since February in the province of Buenos Aires for "cultivation and possession" of marijuana plants for medicinal purposes.
"This can not happen again.She (Funaro) is an example, she is our flag.They treated us like criminals, "Salech said.
In defending the self-cultivation, the organization Mam Cultiva warned that the oil that is planned to be imported from the United States is a single strain so it only has effect in 20% of the children being treated.
"The use of medicinal cannabis worldwide is legal, and in patients who do not respond to traditional treatments and in which there is no need for surgery, research has shown that they respond to the use of the cannabis plant," said the researcher and specialist In neuroscience Silvia Kochen in his speech on Tuesday in commission of the upper house.
- Open door -
The doctor Marcelo Morante told the press in Congress that the approval of the law "opens the way for the substance to be obtained through a legal source and to have a medical accompaniment of its use, ie open the door To cannabis medicine ".
In deputies , authorization for the therapeutic use of cannabis had been approved in November by unanimity, with one abstention.
"Medicinal cannabis is hope for those patients who have no response from any medication. Its use is a paradigm shift that is a challenge in the world, "said Ana Garcia Nicora , president of Cameda (Cannabis Medicinal Argentina).
Uruguay became the first country in 2013 to pass a law that allows the cultivation of marijuana for self-consumption in the home and the formation of grower clubs to plant cooperatively.
Since then several Latin American countries have advanced similar laws, while Colombia, Chile and Mexico have passed laws authorizing the cultivation and use of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes.