More than 672,000 patients to be treated with medical cannabis in Brazil by 2024

The number of people receiving cannabis-based treatment has risen sharply in recent years. Brazil in 2024, with more than 672,000 patients, a increase of 56% compared with the previous year.

This growth is accompanied by increase substantial 22% of revenues, the sector generating 853 million R$ (nearly 150 million euros), according to a report by Kaya Mind, a company specializing in cannabis research and market analysis.

A flourishing and increasingly accessible market

According to Kaya Mind, 80% from 5,570 Brazilian municipalities are now welcoming patients using medical cannabis, reflecting a nationwide expansion of access. This progress is due in part to the more than 2,180 therapeutic cannabis products available, which offer treatments tailored to a variety of medical needs.

Maria Eugenia Riscala, CEO of Kaya Mind, explained this trend, saying, «The expansion of medical cannabis is evident not only in terms of numbers, but also in the way medicine is integrating it into patients» routines across the country."

This steady growth is set to continue, with projections estimating that revenues to reach R$ 1 billion by 2025.

The Brazilian medical cannabis market has also attracted the attention of international players. In 2024, 413 foreign companies have exported products to the country, enriching the market with their diversity and boosting competitiveness. This renewed interest is partly attributable to the’cannabis cultivation authorized by Brazil's Federal Supreme Court.

As Thiago Cardoso, Manager at Kaya Mind, explains, «these advances enable more access to therapeutic solutions This positions Brazil as a globally competitive and innovative market.»

Accessibility challenges

Despite these advances, 47% of patients still depend on the’import of products, This is often due to legal obstacles preventing the domestic market from meeting demand. Among the remaining patients, 31% buy cannabis products in pharmacies, while 22% are aimed at associations which offer less expensive options to the economically disadvantaged.

Associations such as TO Ananda, in the state of Tocantins, play a crucial role in making the medical cannabis treatments more accessible. Jonadabe Oliveira da Silva, the organization's vice-president, emphasized its impact: «Even the most conservative people recognize the effectiveness of treatment and abandon their prejudices.

TO Ananda, founded two years ago, was born of its president's personal experience with the’cannabis oil as an alternative to painkillers. The organization now collaborates with entities such as the Public Defender's Office and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), and plans to expand its partnerships with private laboratories and academic institutions by 2025.