Is Cocaine legal in Argentina?

Legal status

Controlled drug under Law 23.737 — illegal; personal-use possession may engage the 'Arriola' private-use doctrine (no fixed quantity); trafficking 4–15 years

Consequences if caught

Possession of a personal-use quantity (Art 14) carries 1 month–2 years. The 2009 Supreme Court "Arriola" ruling held Art 14's penalty unconstitutional for consumption in private that harms no one else (Constitution Art 19) — BUT that ruling binds only its own case: lower courts vary, police still arrest, and there is NO fixed gram threshold. DISAMBIGUATION: decriminalized is NOT legalized — sale and purchase remain criminal, and Arriola prevents a conviction, not an arrest. Trafficking (Law 23.737 Art 5) — production, import, export, sale or supply — carries 4–15 years. Cocaine is a controlled drug; personal-use possession falls under Art 14 (the Arriola private-personal-use doctrine may apply; there is no fixed quantity) and trafficking under Art 5.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form; controlled medicines require your prescription and original packaging — confirm with your embassy before travel.

Documentation

Medical cannabis is legal for registered patients only; recreational sale and purchase remain criminal offences. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and original packaging and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Argentina’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.