Tag: brazil

CBD Mitigates Symptoms In Adolescents With Autism In Brazilian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on July 23, 2024. Posted in Science.

The cannabis plant contains dozens of cannabinoids, with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being arguably the most well-known cannabinoid. Another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), has grown in popularity in recent years due to its wellness properties.

CBD is being successfully used to treat a number of conditions around the globe, from arthritis to epilepsy. Many medical cannabis products containing CBD are derived from hemp, which is legal in more jurisdictions than non-hemp forms of cannabis.

A team of researchers in Brazil recently conducted a study involving CBD therapies and adolescents with autism. Below are the results of the Brazilian study via a news release from NORML:

Brasilia, Brazil: The administration of CBD-rich cannabis extracts is safe and effective in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to data from an observational study published in the journal Pharmaceuticals.

Brazilian investigators assessed the use of CBD-dominant extracts (CBD to THC ratio: 33 to 1) in a cohort of 30 children (mean age: 11 years) with moderate to severe ASD. Participants consumed cannabis extracts for six-months. Subjects were clinically assessed by their designated physicians. At the end of the treatment period, semi-structured interviews were also conducted with the participants’ parents and caregivers.

Consistent with prior studies, most subjects (70 percent) demonstrated clinical improvements following CBD therapy – particularly with respect to attention and communication skills. Seventy-four percent of subjects either reduced or ceased their use of at least one prescribed medication during the study.

Two-thirds (67 percent) of parents reported improvements in their child’s behavior in six of the 12 categories assessed. No parents reported that their child’s symptoms worsened over the course of the study.

The study’s authors concluded: “In the present study, we show that the benefits of treatment with full-spectrum CBD oil for non-syndromic individuals with ASD are not only noticeable to the clinical eye but are also perceived and experienced by the families and caregivers. In short, the findings corroborate that this treatment, combined with a gradual and individualized dosage regimen, is safe and efficient for broader treatment of central and comorbid symptoms associated with ASD, being able to improve aspects such as social interaction, communication and quality of life.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of placebo-controlled trial data showing improvements in ASD patients’ symptoms following the use of cannabinoid products. Observational studies have also shown that the use of cannabis can provide benefits in adults with autism.

Full text of the study, “Clinical and family implications of cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant full-spectrum phytocannabinoid extracts in children and adolescents with moderate to severe non-syndromic autism spectrum disorder (ASD): An observational study on neurobehavioral management,” appears in Pharmaceuticals. Additional information on cannabinoids and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

gavel law courtroom judge jury conviction appeal

Brazil’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Personal Cannabis Possession

Written by Hazel Norman on July 1, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Brazil’s top court issued a landmark ruling this week, determining that the nation’s cannabis prohibition policies toward individual consumers possessing a personal amount of cannabis are unconstitutional.

Deliberations began on the personal cannabis possession case in 2015. A majority of the justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of decriminalization. In their decision, the justices made it clear that it only applies to individual consumers and not distributors. What constitutes a ‘personal amount’ of cannabis in Brazil is yet to be specifically defined.

This week’s ruling builds on previous decisions in Brazil, such as a ruling in October 2023 that determined cannabis odor alone does not justify searching an individual’s home. A decision in March 2023 granted a registered NGO permission to cultivate medical cannabis domestically in Brazil after the government refused to grant permission.

In June 2022, Brazil’s top Court ruled in favor of three patients who sought to cultivate their own cannabis.

The ruling in Brazil this week is somewhat similar to court decisions rendered in a handful of other nations. In October 2018, Mexico’s Supreme Court deemed the nation’s prohibition policies against personal use to be unconstitutional.

In 2018 South Africa’s Supreme Court issued a similar ruling as Mexio’s, and in 2019 Italy’s Supreme Court ruled against personal cannabis cultivation prohibition.

Brazil now enters a growing global debate about what constitutes ‘legalization’ or ‘decriminalization’ and which nations fall into which category. Brazil’s ruling this week provides for some protections for individuals, however, it’s clearly not the same as having codified adult-use laws.

Currently, Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa have officially adopted laws that expressly protect adult consumers who possess and use cannabis. Law enforcement is expressly prohibited from going after adult consumers who are within the parameters of those nations’ cannabis laws.

Brazil is in a similar category as Mexico where case law is such that cannabis prohibition pertaining to individual consumers is unconstitutional, but also, lawmakers have not passed a new measure to officially replace old policies with new ones. The saga in Mexico has gone on for over 5 years and still no changes. Only time will tell if the same proves to be true in Brazil.

Cannabis Is Associated With Weight Loss, Lower BMI Per Meta-Analysis

Written by Frank Schuler on November 19, 2023. Posted in Science.

For many years cannabis opponents have tried very hard to portray cannabis as being unhealthy, and that those who consume cannabis are lazy couch potatoes. Cannabis stigma comes in many forms, with ‘lazy shaming’ cannabis consumers being a particularly common version of it.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can absolutely be a part of an active lifestyle. All a person needs to do to see that on display is to take into account how many elite athletes around the globe report consuming cannabis and that it has no negative impact on their health.

A new meta-analysis out of Brazil examined cannabis consumption as it pertains to weight loss and body mass index (BMI). Below is more about it via a news release from NORML:

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Subjects who consume cannabis or cannabis-related products in clinical trials typically experience weight loss, according to a meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Brazilian researchers reviewed results from randomized controlled trials involving subjects’ use of cannabis or cannabis-related products.

They reported: “In general, cannabis use reduced weight … and WC [waist circumference]. When examining subgroups, longer follow-up periods were associated with a more pronounced BMI [body mass index] reduction.”

The study’s authors concluded, “These findings suggest that cannabis and sub-products could be considered adjuncts in obesity treatment by helping to reduce relevant anthropometric measurements.”

A 2022 ecological analysis published in the journal Health Economics reported that the adoption of state-licensed marijuana sales is associated with a decrease in state-level obesity rates.

Case-control studies have consistently reported that those with a history of marijuana use are less likely than abstainers to be obese or to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Studies have also previously linked cannabis use to greater rates of physical activity.

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabis and sub-products on anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” appears in the International Journal of Obesity.

CBD May Provide Potential Improvements To Cognitive Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on November 6, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have spent a great deal of time and effort over many years trying to convince society that cannabis is bad for the human brain. While human biology is complex, particularly the human brain, at the macro level a growing body of evidence is proving that cannabis opponents are wrong.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can be healthy for the human brain in certain instances. The research surrounding cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids is still largely in its infancy, and scientists are unlocking new knowledge every week.

Researchers in Brazil recently examined CBD and cognitive performance and the results are favorable. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

São Paulo, Brazil: The therapeutic use of CBD doesn’t adversely impact cognitive performance and may potentially improve it in certain subjects, according to a literature review published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Brazilian investigators reviewed 59 studies, including 23 clinical trials, assessing the cognitive safety of CBD. They reported a lack of cognitive deficits associated with CBD dosing. They further reported that CBD administration in animal models may be associated with cognitive improvements.

Authors concluded: “The results demonstrate that the chronic and acute administration of CBD seems not to impair cognition in humans without neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, preclinical studies report promising results regarding the effects of CBD on the cognitive processing of animals. Future double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials with larger, less selective samples, with standardized tests, and using different doses of CBD in outpatients are of particular interest to elucidate the cognitive effects of CBD.”

A 2022 open-label trial performed by doctors at Harvard Medical School reported that patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety experience symptom improvements and better cognitive performance following the daily administration of full spectrum CBD extracts. Data published earlier this year reported that cancer patients taking CBD-infused edible products report subjective improvements in their cognitive functioning.

Full text of the study, “Effects of the acute and chronic administration of cannabidiol on cognition in humans and animals: A systemic review,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Court In Brazil Determines Cannabis Smell Does Not Justify Home Search

Written by Hazel Norman on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Cannabis prohibition enforcement involves various tactics, including the reliance on ‘smelling’ cannabis to ‘justify’ searching people, their personal property, their vehicle, and sometimes their homes. The latter was at the heart of a recent court case in Brazil that went all the way to the nation’s Superior Court of Justice.

A lower court previously determined that if law enforcement smelled cannabis from a person “who is already being investigated on suspicion of drug trafficking,” that law enforcement has just cause to search the person. However, that just cause does not extend to the suspect’s home and a judicial warrant is required, even if a different resident of the home authorizes entry.

The case involved an individual being investigated for suspected drug trafficking. After searching the suspect outside of their home and reportedly finding nothing, law enforcement then searched the individual’s home despite not having a warrant to do so. Cannabis and other illegal items were discovered during the search.

Law enforcement indicated that they had received permission to enter the residence from a different resident other than the suspect, however, the Superior Court of Justice determined that the search was illegal and that anything found during the search was inadmissible. Per Newsendip:

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca of the SCJ granted habeas corpus, a constitutional right for someone who is imprisoned to report wrongful detention or abuse of power.

Minister Reynaldo Soares da Fonseca recognized the illegality of the evidence and acquitted the defendant of any charges. He explains in his decision that there is a necessity for concrete evidence that would justify entering a home and invading the right to privacy.

“I reiterate that nothing illegal was found with the personal search, therefore not justifying entry into the person’s home,” concluded the judge.

The recent decision in Brazil obviously does not extend beyond Brazil’s borders. Furthermore, the scope of the decision is fairly narrow and still permits people to be searched outside their homes for simply smelling like cannabis.

What Brazil truly needs is a modernization of its national cannabis policies. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy that has harmed too many lives, and it’s beyond time that Brazil started taking a more sensible approach.

Cannabis Extracts Associated With Quality Of Life Improvements In Autism Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on September 11, 2023. Posted in Science.

Emerging cannabis science shows a lot of promise for a number of health conditions that people suffer from, but one that seems to be particularly promising is in the area of cannabis and autism. It’s an area of study that seems to be getting more focus in recent years.

International researchers estimate that as much as 1% of the world’s population has autism, although many patients go undiagnosed for various reasons. A team of researchers in Brazil recently conducted a quality-of-life study focused on autism and cannabis extracts, and the results are encouraging. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Brasilia, Brazil: Autistic patients who use plant-derived cannabis extracts perceive benefits in their symptoms and reduce their use of prescription medications, according to data published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

A team of Brazilian researchers assessed the use of individually tailored doses of cannabis extracts in 20 subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most patients (80 percent) consumed cannabis extracts for at least six months. Patients used extracts dominant in either CBD or THC. All extracts were administered orally via drops.

Cannabis treatment was associated with perceived symptom improvements as well as with reductions in patients’ use of neuropsychiatric medications. Reported side effects from cannabis treatment were mostly “mild and temporary.”

Investigators reported: “In this manuscript we present the perceived improvements of ASD patients and their families over the course of 3 to 21 months of treatment with FCE [full-spectrum cannabis extracts], using a titration protocol that resulted in personalized CBD and THC dosages, resulting in individually tailored CBD to THC proportions. … Parents reported improvement in all aspects evaluated. Side effects observed during FCE treatment were mild. … As treatment evolved, most other medications had their doses reduced or were completely removed during FCE treatment, which is consistent with the subjective perception of general improvement after FCE treatment. Patients’ and their families’ quality of life improved in 19 out of the 20 cases.”

They concluded: “Our study expands the scientific data demonstrating that clinical use of cannabis extracts is a safe intervention with promising and valuable effects over many core and comorbid aspects of autism that are not achieved by conventional medications. … Based on our findings, we propose guidelines for individually tailored dosage regimens that may be adapted to locally available qualified FCEs and guide further clinical trials.”

Numerous other studies have also identified improvements in autism patients who consume either plant-derived extracts or cannabis flower. Survey data published in 2021 by the publication Autism Parenting Magazine reported that 22 percent of US caregivers or parents have provided CBD to an autistic child.

Full text of the study, “Individually tailored dosage regimen of full-spectrum cannabis extracts for autistic core and comorbid symptoms: A real-life report of multi-symptomatic benefits,” appears in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Additional information on cannabis and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag brazil flag

Brazil Judge Allows NGO To Cultivate Medical Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on March 26, 2023. Posted in Policy.

The public policy avenue that most people are familiar with when it comes to legalization efforts is when lawmakers approve a reform measure in a particular jurisdiction. After all, people are elected or appointed to make laws, and legislative action is the most straightforward way to codify something into law.

However, there are other means by which public policy is changed, including public policies that pertain to cannabis. One such way is via a citizen initiative or referendum. Italy, for example, has this political process in which ordinary citizens can gather a certain number of signatures to force a vote on something.

Another avenue that many people don’t seem to always consider is the courts. Legal decisions handed down by courts also create laws, particularly when it’s a nation’s top court that has the final say and there are no further appeal options.

Brazil is a nation that seems to have quite a bit of cannabis policy being set by its courts, with a recent example of that coming via a case involving an NGO that wants to cultivate medical cannabis. Brazil’s industry is currently built around importing cannabis products, but thanks to a recent legal decision, that could be changing. Per excerpts from The Brazilian Report:

A federal judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe on Wednesday authorized an NGO to grow cannabis and manufacture medicinal products for its associates. Although similar authorizations have been granted in Brazil for producing cannabis oil, this is the first time such approval has included the plant’s flowers, extracts, and edible products.

Lawyer Paulo Henrique Thiessen, who represents the NGO Salvar, celbrated the decions as “wonderful news.”

Cannabis reform is sweeping the globe, particularly in South America. The continent is famously home to the world’s first legalized nation, Uruguay, which passed an adult-use legalization measure back in 2013.

Several South American countries have reformed their medical cannabis policies in recent years, with Brazil, the continent’s largest country, being much slower to pass and implement meaningful medical cannabis reform measures compared to its continental peers. Hopefully this recent legal decision will inspire lawmakers and regulators in Brazil to pick up the pace.

International Researchers Cure Horse’s Behavioral Disorders Using 4-Weeks Of CBD Treatment

Written by Frank Schuler on February 26, 2023. Posted in Science.

A team of international researchers from Italy and Brazil published findings earlier this month in the science publication Veterinary and Animal Science in which they reported a “successful outcome of four weeks-therapy with CBD” in a clinical case involving a 22-year-old Quarter horse that was experiencing behavioral disorders.

The clinical case study was a collaboration between investigators from the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna in Italy and the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University Metodista of São Paulo in Brazil.

At the heart of the study was a 22-year-old mare subject that was reportedly suffering from “chronic crib-biting and wind-sucking,” which are common behavioral disorders in horses for various reasons, including but not limited to poor welfare. According to the researchers, “Any alteration from the conditions found in nature can lead to the occurrence of some specific behaviours, called stereotypies which are characterised as repetitive, consistent patterns of behaviour usually defined as having no apparent ultimate or proximal functions.”

“According to the owner report, the mare had presented this behaviour for the past 15 years; previous clinical approaches, such as a cervical collar, environmental enhancement, diet change, and chemical tranquilizers (acepromazine 0,1 mg/kg T.I.D) were not successful.” the researchers stated in their findings.

“At anamnesis, it was revealed that the mare used to be a sport horse with an intensive training routine. Once her sports career was over, the owners retired her and kept her partially in the paddock and partially in the box (average 3 h/day at the paddock). The sport career was over at the age of 10 years old, while the behaviour disorder started at the age of 7 years old, getting progressively worse over the years.” the researchers stated about the horse that was the focus of the study.

“The horse was placed in therapy with commercially available isolated CBD 200 mg/ml at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/daily q12h per os. The dose and frequency were determinate based on previous case report and veterinary pharmacological studies (Ellis and Contino 2021). During the therapy, there were no changes in food quality/quantity or the daily routine of the mare.” the researchers stated about the CBD treatment specifically.

“To assess the results of the therapy, the mare was followed up under constant observation, for 7 days before the therapy and then during the treatment by the veterinary team divided into shifts, which provided the number of hours spent with the stereotypy (Fig. 2a) pre- and during administration of CBD. The mare was also weighted weekly, with the first weight measured at the start of the 7 days observation period prior to therapy.” the researchers stated about assessing the subject’s treatment.

“The results after 30 days of therapy were positive and no regression in behaviour was seen by the owners after the treatment ended. To the best of the Authors’ knowledge, this is the first published case describing the successful treatment and management of a chronic crib-biting, wind-sucking horse with the oral administration of CBD, enhancing welfare and life quality.” the researchers concluded.

This may be the first study of its kind, however, it’s not the first animal science study in general. This latest study adds to a growing body of evidence which proves that just as cannabis can provide wellness benefits to humans, so too can it do the same for animals. Medical cannabis as it pertains to veterinary medicine is an emerging sector of the medical cannabis industry, and a particularly promising one at that.

According to Grand View Research the global veterinary medicine industry was worth an estimated $44.59 billion in 2022 alone.

Brazil’s Federal Council Of Medicine Creates Confusion With New Cannabis Guidance

Written by Frank Schuler on October 24, 2022. Posted in Policy.

Brazil is the most populous country in South America. With a population of over 200 million people, Brazil makes up almost half the population on the continent and dwarfs the next most populous country in South America, Colombia (roughly 50 million people).

It’s a safe bet that there are a considerable number of suffering patients in Brazil, many of which that would likely benefit from using one or more types of cannabis products for medical purposes.

Unfortunately, Brazil’s medical cannabis program is still limited in many ways, with many suffering patients not qualifying for the country’s emerging medical cannabis program because their condition or conditions are not on the list of those that qualify for safe access.

To make matters worse, the nation’s Federal Council of Medicine issued new guidance this month that would further limit who can qualify to receive medical cannabis. Per Globo:

Eight years after its last guidance on the use of cannabidiol, the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) published this Friday (14) a new standard aimed at guiding how doctors should treat the subject.

With no advances and more restrictive, CFM resolution No. 2,324 authorizes cannabis products to be used only to treat some cases of epilepsy. The text also prohibits the prescription of “any other derivatives (of cannabis sativa) other than cannabidiol”.

The new guidance is the target of considerable pushback from a wide array of stakeholders, and not just patients. Members of the emerging cannabis industry, as well as members of the medical community, were quick to offer criticism.

One major point that is being made by experts from all types of backgrounds is that Brazil had previously authorized the sale of CBD medication for multiple sclerosis in pharmacies. The new guidance obviously contradicts that prior authorization, as well as other practices that are common in Brazil right now.

The guidance puts doctors in a really tough situation and clearly limits their ability to treat patients. It will be interesting to see if the guidance is actually incorporated, or if it is legally challenged and/or scraped in the future.