Is Crack Cocaine legal in Argentina?

Legal status

Crack is the freebase (base) form of cocaine and has no separate legal identity in Argentina: it is controlled AS cocaine under Ley 23.737, arts. 5, 14 and 17, whose scheduling of cocaine reaches its salts, preparations and therefore the base/freebase form. Crack is prohibited identically to cocaine.

Consequences if caught

Article 5: unauthorised production, trafficking and distribution is punished with four to fifteen years imprisonment and a fine. Article 14 first paragraph: simple possession, one to six years imprisonment and a fine. Article 14 second paragraph: where the small quantity and other circumstances show unequivocally that possession is for personal use, one month to two years. Article 17: where dependence is established the court may suspend the sentence and order a curative security measure, and successful completion exempts the person from serving it.

If prescribed or medical

Cocaine has at most narrow controlled medical use; the crack/freebase base has no medicinal preparation and cannot be prescribed. Licit narcotics are dispensed under the ANMAT-administered controlled-substances regime; a prohibited street drug has no prescribable form.

Documentation

No prescription documentation exists for this substance. Carry prescribed medicines in original packaging with the prescription.

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.