Participación y experticias activistas en la regulación del cannabis en Argentina

This article addresses the process of cannabis regulation in Argentina, focusing on interventions of cannabis social organizations in the construction of knowledge, networks, and government policies on access to the cannabis plant and its derivatives for medicinal and then industrial use. It is inspired by propositions to deepen inquiries into participation around drug policies through studies in science, technology, and society, as well as local research on social movements, particularly cannabis activism. Thus, through a qualitative methodology that includes the analysis of participant observations, documents, and interviews, four experiences of participation between 2015 and 2023 are examined: legislative advice and advocacy, the formation of networks of expertise, the creation of courses on cannabis in universities, and the composition of consultative bodies. In this way, the article presents a broader view of participation, examining the ways demands are formed and translated, as well as their effects. It is proposed here that, through these experiences, activist actions, interrelated with a wide range of actors and state agencies, contributed to the development and negotiation of expertise around governance, research, and teaching on the uses of the plant. This not only led to the generation of specific regulations and resolutions as means of managing populations but also delineated and brought into dialogue the different expertise involved, whether accredited or experiential.