Deputy Paulinha advocates for a bill that proposes the use of seized cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes in SC
Proposal aims to transform seized cannabis into input for research and medications
The Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina (Alesc) received, on August 19th, the Bill (PL) 563/2025, authored by Deputy Paulinha (Podemos). The proposal suggests that Cannabis sativa plants seized by police forces in the State cease to be incinerated and are exclusively destined for scientific research and medication production, following federal legislation and the rules of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
Commenting on the motivation to present the proposal, Paulinha stated that the project arose from listening to families fighting for access to treatments based on medicinal cannabis.
"Numerous seizures of Cannabis sativa by the State police forces are routinely carried out and, at the end of the process, incinerated. Meanwhile, patients continue to suffer without access," said the deputy.
She also expresses her indignation at the "lack of action". "This project is a way to turn a problem into hope: using what is currently discarded to save lives and give dignity to people," she declared.
The deputy acknowledges that the topic still generates controversies but assesses that society is ready to face this debate.
"Our text is responsible, focused solely on research and medication production, not on recreational use. I am confident that, through dialogue, we will make progress".
The deputy emphasized that, ultimately, it is not about politics but about health, science, and, above all, about "people who need to live with less pain".
According to the bill, only public or private institutions authorized by the federal government may receive the seized cannabis for research or medication production. Coordination will be the responsibility of the State Health Department, which may enter into agreements with universities, research centers, and accredited laboratories.