Brazil Discusses Project That Would Allow Cultivation, Production Of Cannabis-Based Medicines

By Natalia Kesselman, originally published on El Planteo.

Last Tuesday, September the 1st, the Brazilian Chamber of Representatives’ Special Commission in charge of regulating cannabis-based medicines held an online meeting in the form of a public hearing.

The objective of the assembly was to analyze a new bill (PL 399/2015) regarding cannabis-based medicines. This new piece of legislation would allow for the research, processing, production, and commercialization of pharmaceutical drugs and medicinal products containing parts of the Cannabis Sativa plant.

The text also contemplates the cultivation of cannabis by legal entities in specific situations.

The Commission

The commission brought together representatives from government agencies and civil associations, expert doctors and researchers, religious institutions, and parents of infants who rely on cannabis-based drugs to treat medical conditions.

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In February, members had traveled to Colombia to collect subsidies and gather information that would benefit the debate and the writing of the new bill. Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the last activity of the special commission had occurred in March of this year.

Project And Goal

The project was written by Representative Luciano Ducci (PSB-PR) and replaces PL 399/2015 presented by Representative Fábio Mitidieri (PSD-SE). Although the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) already has certain regulations regarding cannabis-based medicines, most of these are imported, highly increasing the final cost.

According to Mitidieri, the project’s goal is the common good: he argues the new regulations would make these drugs more accessible. And this is key, since these meds often turn out to be the only effective treatment to alleviate various ailments including certain forms of epilepsy, cancer-related symptoms and neuropathic pain.

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Representative Ducci, pediatrician and author of the original project, explains: “In Brazil, around 13 million people could benefit from cannabis-based drugs. Our fight is to try to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people who found a relief for their pain in cannabis remedies”.

Clashing Opinions

Just like most things surrounding cannabis and health, very different opinions have risen up regarding this project.

On the one hand there are those who think like Senator Eduardo Girão (Pode-CE), who has called the text "an aberration." He also referred to marijuana as "a drug that destroys families."

Likewise, he has declared that those who promote the motion are using the treatment of children with epilepsy as an excuse to "make Brazil the largest producer and exporter of marijuana in the world." According to Girão, everything would revolve around lobbying in favor of the “narco-business”.

On the other hand, voices of support are being heard, such as that of the Senator and doctor Humberto Costa (PT-PE), who stands by the scientific evidence, which has repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of Cannabis Sativa-based medications to treat neurological pathologies.

Costa highlights how big a mistake it is to ban natural medicines with proven effectiveness. He also reminds people that there are specific situations in which the use of these drugs is already authorized.

"It is a good project," says the Senator. "It is a good idea that can help many people who, due to this legal prohibition, cannot access drugs that could improve their quality of life."

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In the middle are those who do not object morally or express their fervent support, but do demonstrate their concern in terms of the priority status that is being given to the project. These agents not only maintain that there are more urgent bills at hand, but also disagree with the "lightness" with which the matter is being treated in order to speed up regulations amidst the pandemic.

"It's too hasty to vote for something of this magnitude like this, in a hurry," declared Senator Styvenson Valentim (Pode RN).

The Private Sector

Seeking input from a private sector agent who gave testimony at the assembly, El Planteo’s team spoke with José Bacellar, President and CEO of VerdeMed. He provided his vision on the global effect that the project’s approval could bring, as well as the social impact it would have at a local level.

On the possibility that Brazil could eventually become a world leader in the cannabis scene, Bacellar says the outcome is difficult to anticipate.

“As we know, it is a regulated industry, so it will take two or three years for it to be actually developing. Then we will see if Brazil is going to take the forefront in the industry in a global sense, or just supply the local market”.

In addition to generating resounding change in the health system, the approval of this bill would be a key step on the way to legalization of adult-use cannabis. This, Bacellar believes, would have an "overall impact on crime, on reducing the imprisonment of young people, and on the reduction of racism, which is very strongly connected to cannabis use and criminalization."

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Finally, regarding those who strongly oppose any type of regulation of the plant (“basically, prohibitionists”), the President and CEO of VerdeMed comments:

“All the societies in the world are moving towards legalization, at least of medical cannabis and hemp. The reality is that we are living in the 21st century, so I think that those on the other side at this moment are on the wrong side of history, and will eventually be defeated in all nations."

Source: Agencia del Senado

Photo: Rafaela Biazi vía Pexels