While all eyes are on the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém (PA), the Chamber of Deputies held its plenary session this Tuesday (11). On the agenda was Appeal No. 29, 2021, which challenges the conclusive appreciation of PL 399/2015. The vote on this appeal was postponed.

The bill seeks to amend Law No. 11,343/2006 to enable the commercialization of medicines containing extracts or parts of the Cannabis sativa plant.

Deputy Ricardo Galvão (REDE-SP), in preparation for the next meeting, declared his support for the medicinal use of cannabis. He stated that the prohibition of the plant was due to a "fear of using the whole plant." Galvão also recalled the return of scientific interest in the medicinal use of cannabis in the 1960s and 1970s, citing researchers Raphael Mechoulam and Elisaldo Carlini as references.

The parliamentarian also mentioned the regulation of cannabis cultivation, whose deadline was postponed to March 2025, and emphasized that PL 399 "must be discussed in Congress".

This Tuesday's (11) plenary session had 380 of the 513 deputies present and approved the urgency of six other proposals. Urgent projects can be voted on in the Plenary without going through the committees.

What defines the Appeal of PL 399/2015?

PL 399/2015 was authored by former deputy and current governor of the State of Sergipe, Fábio Mitidieri (PSD). It amends the Drug Law to regulate cannabis-based medicines, under Anvisa supervision. The text also provides for public authorization for cannabis cultivation in Brazil, strictly for medicinal and industrial purposes.

In 2021, the proposal was approved by a special Chamber committee conclusively. This procedural route dispenses with a vote in the plenary, sending the text directly to the Senate. However, Appeal (REC) 29/2021, presented at the time by former deputy Diego Garcia (Podemos-PR), challenges this exact procedure. The argument is that the complexity of PL 399/2015 requires a vote from all 513 deputies - which did not happen this afternoon.

Last week, Deputy Eduardo Suplicy (PT-SP), one of the main proponents of the agenda, expressed on social media requesting the postponement of the appeal vote. The reason, according to the deputy, was to ensure the presence of parliamentarians participating in COP30.

The appeal of PL 399/2015 remained on the table during the session. If the plenary approves the appeal in a future vote, the project will be required to undergo a general vote in the Chamber. If the appeal is rejected, the decision of the committee is validated, and PL 399/2015 advances to the Senate.