Tag: brazil

Historically, cannabis policy modernization opponents have portrayed cannabis as a ‘gateway drug,’ claiming that the use of cannabis leads to the use of more harmful substances. The results of a recent study in Brazil suggest that cannabis may be effective at helping people reduce their use of more harmful substances.

“Researchers from the University of Brasília (UnB) have announced encouraging results in the use of cannabidiol (CBD) to treat people addicted to crack cocaine.” reported Sechat in their local coverage (translated from Portuguese to English).

“The study conducted at UnB revealed that the use of CBD was more effective in reducing crack consumption and side effects, compared to medications traditionally used in Alcohol and Drug Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPs AD). For those facing the challenge of treating such complex conditions, the novelty represents a relief, both for health professionals and for patients and their families.” the outlet also reported.

The results of the study in Brazil build on previously conducted international research involving other substances that arrived at similar conclusions.

For example, a study conducted in early 2024 by a team of international researchers involving 2,697 subjects found that “study participants reported that cannabis had a high degree of efficacy in alleviating their illness/symptoms, and many reported a reduction in their use of prescription opioids, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances.”

A study from earlier this year found that 60% of surveyed patients reported “reducing opioids since starting cannabis.” A separate study conducted in 2024 found that the use of medical cannabis was associated with a lowering of the use of morphine.

“This systematic review summarized published literature on county-level predictors of drug overdose mortality in the United States. … “[M]easures related to cannabis dispensaries, substance use treatment, social capital, and proportions of family households, were generally consistently associated with lower drug overdose mortality outcomes across multiple studies.” stated researchers who conducted a systematic review of county-level predictors of drug overdose mortality in the United States in 2022.

When it comes to administering medical cannabis to pediatric patients, safety and caution are paramount. Doing so should always involve the advice, guidance, and approval of a licensed medical doctor who specializes in pediatric care.

While cases of medical cannabis being prescribed to pediatric patients are rare compared to prescriptions for non-pediatric patients, such cases do exist and rightfully so. Cannabis is medicine, as a growing list of peer-reviewed studies and individual patient cases demonstrates.

A team of researchers in Brazil recently conducted a study involving cannabis extracts and pediatric autism patients, finding that the extracts were both safe and effective. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

São Paulo, Brazil: The use of cannabis extracts containing standardized percentages of CBD and THC safely mitigates autism symptoms in children, according to a systematic review of trial data published in the journal Cureus.

Brazilian researchers reviewed findings from seven studies (three randomized clinical trials and four observational studies) involving 494 younger patients with autism spectrum disorder. Study participants consumed extracts dominant in cannabidiol.

Researchers reported, “CBD-rich formulations may hold promise for managing certain ASD symptoms. Improvements were noted in anxiety, sleep quality, social effects, and behavior, although these findings varied across studies. Importantly, adverse events were generally mild and occurred at similar rates in cannabinoid and placebo groups, supporting the intervention’s safety profile.”

The study’s authors concluded, “More rigorous, well-designed RCTs [randomized controlled trials] are necessary to confirm these results and establish clear treatment guidelines for cannabinoid use in ASD.”

Full text of the study, “Efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for autism spectrum disorder: An updated systematic review,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabinoids and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

According to international researchers, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has doubled in the past 25 years with an estimated 8.5 million individuals living with the serious health condition.

“Parkinson’s disease resulted in 5.8 million disability-adjusted life years, an increase of 81% since 2000, and caused 329,000 deaths, an increase of over 100% since 2000.” states the World Health Organization.

Researchers based in Brazil recently published the results of a case report that found that the use of medical cannabis oil provided symptomatic improvements in patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

João Pessoa, Brazil: The daily administration of plant-derived cannabis extracts containing THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids is associated with significant improvements in a patient with late-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to the case report published in the Brazilian Journal of Biology.

Brazilian investigators documented clinical improvements in a 77-year-old PD patient following his use of cannabis oil. The patient consumed up to five drops of cannabis oil twice daily for three months.

The study’s authors reported symptomatic improvements within one week of cannabis therapy. The patient’s symptoms continued to improve throughout the trial period, resulting in a reduction in his use of prescription medicines.

“This case reports a significant improvement in both motor and non-motor functions in a patient with advanced PD following the administration [of] a full-spectrum CBD-rich oil containing THC and other phytocannabinoids,” they concluded. “These compelling results suggest that cannabis oil may offer a valuable and effective therapeutic option for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis oil in treating Parkinson’s disease: Improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms: A case report,” appears in the Brazilian Journal of Biology. Additional information on cannabis and Parkinson’s disease is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Brazil is home to an emerging legal cannabis industry, and the nation is also home to a national agricultural research agency named Embrapa. Embrapa recently announced that it will launch a research project focused on cannabis cultivation, which is expected to last 12 years.

“Brazil’s agricultural research agency Embrapa, which helped turn the country into a leading grains exporter, is preparing a 12-year research program that could do the same for cannabis cultivation in the farming powerhouse.” stated The Gazette in its original reporting.

“Embrapa’s plans include creating a cannabis seed bank and adapting varieties to the Brazilian soil and climate, while helping to identify and develop regional cannabis production hubs around the country.” the media outlet also reported.

Kaya Mind estimates that Brazil is now home to about 672,000 medical cannabis patients, which is a 50% increase compared to 2023. The market researchers estimate that only one-third of those patients currently make their purchases legally through the nation’s pharmacies and another 22% access medical cannabis products through collectives.

According to leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, the overall region’s growing cannabis market is worth a considerable amount of money.

“Central and South America together are an $8 billion total market; however, its low-cost manufacturing and drive towards EU GMP and GAP certifications is making the region an attractive source of supply for the EU.” Whitney stated in a recent newsletter.

Whitney’s analysis was originally provided as part of his presentation at the inaugural Andean Hemp and Cannabis Trade Summit in October where he presented on the Central and South American hemp and cannabis markets.

In addition to the overall market value analysis, Whitney Economics also provided the following market information:

• Five countries in Central and South America make up 89% of the regional demand
• Brazil is home to the largest domestic market ($2.5 billion)
• Total Central and South American market demand requires 6.3 million pounds of cultivated output
• Peru is an estimated $0.8 – $2.2 billion domestic market
• Peru’s hemp industry has strong opportunities in fibers, grains, and isolated cannabinoids

A separate market analysis by Coherent Market Insights projects that the global cannabis cultivation market size “is expected to reach US$ 136 Bn by 2030, from US$ 42.9 Bn in 2023, at a CAGR of 17.9% during the forecast period.”

Spondyloarthritis, sometimes referred to as spondyloarthropathy, is an inflammatory arthritis condition that affects the patient’s spine. The main symptom of spondyloarthritis in most suffering patients involves low back pain.

According to a study from 2020, researchers estimated that as many as .5% to 2% of the world’s population suffers from spondyloarthritis to some degree. Common treatments for the condition depend on the severity of spondyloarthritis in the patient.

Researchers in Brazil recently published findings for a case report involving cannabidiol (CBD) and spondyloarthritis. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

São José do Rio Preto, Brazil: The daily administration of plant-derived CBD oil is associated with reduced spondyloarthritis-related pain and increased physical activity, according to a case report published in the journal Cureus.

A Brazilian researcher documented improvements in a 72-year-old male patient with neuropathic pain from spondyloarthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the spinal column. The patient suffered from chronic pain, numbness, diminished muscle strength, and limited movement due to his condition.

Treatment with CBD oil resulted in initial improvements within 20 days. These improvements became more pronounced over time. “After 90 days of treatment, the patient reported the absence of pain, the return of physical activity (walking and swimming), and the suspension of the use of analgesics. Muscle strength increased considerably and tremors in the left arm had diminished by 90 percent.”

The study’s author concluded, “Based on this result and considering scientific evidence of the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of patients with chronic pain due to different illnesses, this therapeutic option may be beneficial to such patients when conventional medicinal treatment is unsatisfactory.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol for the treatment of spondyloarthritis-related pain: A case report,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabinoids and pain management is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.