Brazil: Legalization of medical cannabis cultivation moves forward... slowly

While the Brazil to legalize medical cannabis by the end of 2019, Brazilian patients are still dependent on imports for their treatment.

A bill of law  tabled in August by MPs Paulo Teixeira and Luciano Ducci, which would legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis and industrial hemp may soon be presented to the lower house of the Brazilian Congress.

The current high price of medical marijuana is one of the main arguments in favor of the cultivation bill. Domestic producers would then be able to supply medical cannabis at a lower cost.

According to Paulo Teixeira, who heads a special commission on medical cannabis in the lower house, the bill has made no progress in the legislative process in recent months, mainly because the country's municipal elections have «paralyzed parliamentary work».

«With these elections behind us, I expect the lower house to quickly begin debating and approving the bill before the end of the year,» said Rep. to MJBizDaily.

The MP said the bill was «the result of a long and deep debate that studied the best of different cannabis legislation in other countries».

The bill, which enjoys broad support, will require Senate approval, which Teixeira believes could come next year.

At the same time, Brazil is studying the possibility of reimbursing a CBD-containing drug. Distributed by Brazilian pharmaceutical company Prati-Donaduzzi, Today, treatment costs 375€ and remains unaffordable for many patients. If it were finally reimbursed, the bill would still be paid by the taxpayer, who would ultimately also benefit from the legalization of domestic cannabis cultivation.