Tag: brazil

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First Cannabis-Based Medicinal Product Gets Approval In Brazil

Written by Johnny Green on April 27, 2020. Posted in Medical.

Cannabis reform is spreading across South America. Uruguay was the first country on the entire planet to legalize cannabis for adult use, and a number of other countries have launched legal medical cannabis industries.

One country that has been somewhat slow to embrace legal cannabis is South America’s most populated country Brazil. Brazil’s medical cannabis program is largely just starting out, with the country having only recently approved its first cannabis-based medical product. Per Rio Times:

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) approved on Wednesday, April 22nd, the registration of the first marijuana-based product in the country.

It is a phytopharmaceutical product that contains cannabidiol and a concentration of less than 0.2 percent THC, the substance with psychotropic effects.

The product may be sold in pharmacies, provided there is a medical prescription. ANVISA states that the drug will be used in cases where there is no therapeutic alternative, but failed to specify which diseases would be benefited.

Late last year ANVISA approved rules for Brazil’s emerging medical cannabis industry, and at the same time, it decided to prohibit domestic medical cannabis production within Brazil which is really unfortunate.

Much like other countries around the world with very strict medical cannabis industry rules, Brazil’s medical cannabis program will be very limited in size until things open up.

Brazil is home to an ideal climate for cultivating the cannabis plant, and if/when Brazil decides to allow domestic cultivation and expand the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis, Brazil’s medical cannabis industry will increase in size exponentially.

Unfortunately for now, business opportunities will be limited in Brazil, as will be the potential for the country’s medical cannabis program to help a significant number of suffering patients.

Brazil Blocks Domestic Medical Cannabis Cultivation

Written by Johnny Green on December 8, 2019. Posted in Politics.

South America is home to some of the best climates for cultivating agricultural crops, including cannabis. With cannabis laws being reformed throughout South America, the continent is poised to become a global leader in cannabis production.

Brazil is South America’s largest country as measured by population size, and second place isn’t close. With a population of over 200 million people Brazil dwarfs the next closest nation’s population (Colombia, less than 50 million people). Brazil will become a massive market for medical cannabis products as they become legally available.

With an ideal climate for cannabis cultivation and a large potential patient base, it would be logical for Brazil to cultivate cannabis within its borders for its own regulated industry. However, that will not be the case. Per Reuters:

Brazilian pharmaceutical regulator Anvisa on Tuesday approved regulations for the roll-out of medicinal cannabis-based products but in a separate vote blocked a proposal to allow domestic medical marijuana plantations.

Anvisa’s approval of rules to regulate the nascent medical marijuana market represents a major shift in a country that has suffered years of deadly drug violence.

Nonetheless, the decision to prohibit domestic plantations shows that Brazil, led by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, is not yet willing to join peers Colombia and Uruguay and develop its own vertically integrated medical marijuana sector.

It makes sense for some countries to rely on imported cannabis products for various reasons. Some countries are just better suited to cultivate cannabis. However, given that Brazil is well-suited to cultivate cannabis, it is bizarre that the nation’s leaders would decide to continue to prohibit domestic cannabis cultivation.

Legal cannabis cultivation companies create jobs and boost local economies. Given how well cannabis grows in Brazil, the nation could easily become a top cannabis exporter if it wanted to. Unfortunately, that will have to wait. For now, at least some patients will eventually be able to receive some relief.

Brazilian Regulators To Vote On Medical Cannabis Proposals Tomorrow

Written by Johnny Green on October 14, 2019. Posted in Medical.

Brazil is the largest nation in South America, as measured by population size, and the next closest country on the continent isn’t close. Brazil’s population of over 200 million people dwarfs the next closest country on the list, Colombia, which has a population of fewer than 50 million people.

A new, compassionate, and exciting industry being created out of thin air in Brazil would be a really big deal on a global scale because of how large the country is. Brazil is the fifth most populated country on earth.

That is what is happening right now, albeit slowly, right before our very eyes. The medical cannabis industry is coming to Brazil beyond imports of pharmaceutical-based cannabis medicines.

Multiple proposals of regulatory models are currently being considered by Brazilian regulators, with a vote expected tomorrow. The vote was originally expected last week until a delay was announced leading up to the vote. Per Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa):

Some suggestions from the Agency’s directors on the texts of the Resolutions to be deliberated on Tuesday (8/10) on cultivation and registration of cannabis-based medicines need to be evaluated. Tema returns to the agenda of the Anvisa Collegiate Board at the next meeting, scheduled for October 15.

Initially, topics discussing criteria for cultivation and registration of plant-based drugs would be deliberated at the Board meeting on Tuesday (10/08).

However, some suggestions from the Agency’s directors were presented to the text. Prior to consideration by the Board of the Agency, the new considerations will be evaluated by the technical areas related to the topic, as well as by the Anvisa Attorney.

Brazil is currently a leading importer of pharmaceutical-based cannabis medicine. It’s far from being an optimal situation. Those types of products are extremely expensive compared to cannabis flower and other cannabis product options that are available in many legal cannabis markets.

Pharmaceutical-based cannabis products are not effective for a large number of suffering patients in Brazil. Those patients need legal access to other forms of cannabis that can be consumed via a wide array of consumption methods.

Domestically cultivated cannabis is what Brazilian lawmakers tasked the government with building a regulatory framework for, and once that becomes a reality, Brazil will likely become home to some of the cheapest medical cannabis options in the world.

It is no secret that cannabis grows better and easier in many parts of South America compared to the rest of the world, similar to other agricultural products. Brazil is no exception. The climate in many parts of Brazil is ideal for sungrown cannabis cultivation.

Not only could Brazil produce its own medical cannabis cheaper than current options for legal cannabis imports, it very well could end up cultivating so much cannabis that it creates the opportunity for Brazil to become a top cannabis exporter to countries around the globe.

Suffering patients in Brazil deserve better medical cannabis options, and individuals and entities that can do honest work and provide quality medicine to those patients should be allowed to legally do so. Hopefully this week’s vote is favorable and Brazil moves closer to implementing a legal, regulated medical cannabis industry.