Brazilian agricultural agency gets green light for cannabis research

Brazil's agricultural research agency, Embrapa, has received authorization from the Anvisa health agency to conduct research on Cannabis. The agency aims to create its first ever Cannabis seed bank, and plans to conduct research on hemp for fiber production.

A historic authorization for Embrapa

At the end of November, Anvisa granted Embrapa a first to carry out agronomic research on cannabis, including the creation of Brazil's first official Cannabis seed bank. For researchers like Daniela Bittencourt, who has long campaigned for scientific access to this plant, the agency's authorization represents a historic change.

«This is just the beginning,» says Bittencourt. The program is structured as a 12-year research plan, with the understanding that, like the work on soy or corn, it could continue indefinitely. Backed by an initial public investment of around 13 million reais (2 million euros), the initiative will identify cultivars adapted to Brazil's tropical conditions and support the national development of CBD-rich medicinal varieties and hemp for fiber.

Embrapa's past innovations have transformed Brazil into the world's leading soybean producer. Stakeholders hope that the agency's extensive expertise in genetics and tropical agriculture can do the same for cannabis, opening up avenues of research that will attract global companies and reduce Brazil's dependence on imported cannabinoid-based medicines.

Demand for cannabinoid-based medicines continues to grow. Brazil is expected to spend over $150 million on these products by 2025, most of which are imported.

Regulatory slowness

However, the green light given to the research comes at a time when the establishment of national rules for the cultivation of low-THC cannabis is still under discussion. continues to be delayed. Shortly after granting authorization to Embrapa, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) again extended the deadline given to the government to finalize regulations on the import and cultivation of hemp seeds for medical and scientific purposes.

Initially tasked with issuing rules within six months of a 2024 ruling classifying low-THC cannabis outside Brazilian drug law, Anvisa and the federal government have repeatedly missed deadlines. The latest extension pushes the deadline back to March 31, 2026, reflecting what officials describe as the «scientific and regulatory complexity» of cannabis cultivation.

Judge Regina Helena Costa, author of the 2024 decision, acknowledged that the government needed more time, but stressed that regulators ultimately had to provide a workable framework. The process now involves several ministries, inter-institutional coordination and even possible review by the Conselhão, broadening political participation in the rule-making process.

Industry frustration and scientific obstacles

Successive postponements have led to growing frustration among researchers and players in the hemp sector. Embrapa representatives warned that each delay slowed scientific progress and prevented Brazil from making evidence-based decisions on cultivation, genetics and industrial development.

As hemp was not recognized for its non-medical applications in the 2024 STJ decision, its cultivation for fiber or grain remains limited to research and pilot projects. Industry players claim that without a regulatory structure, Brazil risks losing economic opportunities in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and sustainable materials, all areas where global competition is intensifying.