The latest episode of Deusa Cast brought together a team of experts to discuss the current scenario of Medicinal Cannabis in Brazil, analyzing regulatory advances, legal challenges, and prospects for the future. The discussion featured Larissa Meneghel, a lawyer specializing in health law and former Anvisa public servant; Paula Scanapieco, commercial manager of Mile Express, an international logistics company for cannabis-based products; and Juliana Sousa, a lawyer practicing in the areas of customs and criminal law.

Among the topics discussed, the lack of a complete composition in Anvisa's collegiate board and its direct impact on the approval of regulations stood out. Currently, to approve a regulation, the favorable vote of at least three directors is required. With only three members on the board, the only way to approve is unanimously — something not always feasible.

“So today, if I only have three directors, the only way to approve a regulation is by having unanimity in the collegiate board. Which is not easy to achieve,” explained Larissa Meneghel.

In the field of logistics, Paula Scanapieco highlighted significant advances, with reduced delivery times and unprecedented reach across the national territory, including remote areas like Oiapoque, in the far north of Amapá.

“It's a great part. Imagine that a person in Oiapoque is using medicinal cannabis. That's fantastic. But, thinking in logistical terms, getting the medication there is a huge challenge. We deliver to cities 700 kilometers from Manaus. We once made a delivery where our partner had to take a little boat to deliver in Pará. We're talking about a vast Brazil, and of course, along the way, it takes teamwork to discuss deadlines, but overall, it has improved a lot. We are managing to deliver medicinal cannabis to all parts of Brazil.”

The discussion also addressed the review of RDC 660/2022, the public consultation with society participation (with 1,476 contributions received), the update of good practices rules for certification, and the recent decision of the STJ, which set a deadline until September 30, 2025, for the regulation of medicinal cannabis cultivation in the country.

Additionally, the guests also discussed the review of RDC 327, a topic that complemented the discussion on the improvement of the regulatory framework. The episode is available on YouTube and Spotify.  

Watch here: