Brazil will have, starting in September, another exclusive pharmacy for medicinal products based on cannabis registered in RDC 327/2019 of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The unit will be inaugurated in Curitiba, Paraná, and will make all types of cannabidiol (CBD) available for immediate delivery.

The medicinal cannabis market in Brazil is experiencing a phase of accelerated expansion within pharmacies. According to Close-Up data, between March 2022 and March 2025, sales in the channel grew from R$ 38.5 million to R$ 237.8 million, a leap of 517% in the period.

The growth is not limited to revenue: in terms of units sold, the evolution was even more significant. The volume jumped from 70.4 thousand products sold in 2022 to 657.4 thousand in 2025, indicating that the demand from Brazilian consumers is keeping pace with the market expansion.

The survey shows that the major pharmacy chains remain absolute leaders, accounting for 71.1% of sales in 2025. Analyzing the performance by state, São Paulo leads pharmacy sales with 28.4%, followed by Rio de Janeiro (11.9%), Minas Gerais (9.8%), and Rio Grande do Sul (8.3%), which together concentrate more than half of the market. Paraná, on the other hand, accounts for only 2.4%, despite having 11.8 million inhabitants and strong economic relevance - the state's GDP grew 5% in the 1st quarter of 2025, almost double the national average, reaching R$ 210.9 billion. The low percentage of sales indicates an underexplored market, with great potential to expand the promotion and access to medicinal cannabis in the state.

This is the opportunity that the company seizes. Michele Farran, one of the partners of Cannabis Company, explains that the pharmacy will operate like any other, but with an exclusive focus on cannabis products. “We will be a normal point of sale, but only with cannabis products,” she says.

According to the company, the products have traceable origins, certifications, and are supplied by laboratories such as Green Care, Green, Herbarium, Biofarma, Ease Labs, and Pratis, all with rigorous quality control. “We will follow all the rules, from A to Z, to ensure a safe and effective product for our customers,” emphasizes Tarsila Tomaz Lins Couto, a pharmacist at the company.

The pharmacy will start operating in September, in Curitiba, from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm. Despite the local inauguration, Michele reveals the intention to expand: “We want to promote our name, establish ourselves, and be able to expand to other regions of Brazil.”

Seed of desire

The motivation for the project arose from a life experience. Michele was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and, after years of conventional treatments without satisfactory results, found an effective alternative in cannabidiol. The positive effects transformed her quality of life: less pain, more energy, and a return to a healthy routine. This experience sparked the desire to expand access to medicinal cannabis for other patients.

“Today, there is still a lot of prejudice. Many people don't know where to start, they have heard about the treatments, but have no idea how they work. We also want to help in this task,” she explains. In addition to selling the products, the company intends to act as a guidance channel, connecting patients and healthcare professionals with reliable information, support, and empathy.

Perspectives for the market

Michele also highlights the ongoing review of RDC 327/2019 by Anvisa as a driver of the business. “The change will be very welcome. The arrival of new products and new administration routes, such as ointments and gummies, is expected to positively impact this market,” she projects.  

According to market research commissioned by a pharmaceutical company, updates to the regulation governing sales in pharmacies and drugstores in the country indicate the potential for the Brazilian market to grow to up to R$ 15 billion by 2034. The scenario considers the expansion of the use of medicinal cannabis in areas such as dentistry, dermatology, and compounding pharmacies, as well as a possible relaxation of prescription rules.

Other sector players are also expected to benefit from the review of RDC 327. Based in Maringá (PR), Cannet has maintained a point of sale for regulated cannabinoid-based products since 2022. In August this year, the pharmacy started offering nine items based on cannabinoids, which are currently sold with a delivery time of up to 72 hours.

Therapeutic use of cannabidiol gains ground

Increasingly recognized by science and the medical community, cannabidiol is considered an ally in the treatment of various health conditions. “The most traditional uses of medicinal cannabis include managing chronic pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain, as well as aiding in the treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and in controlling nausea and vomiting,” explains Tarsila.

The substance is also being studied for the care of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Tourette Syndrome, showing potential in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders — contributing to a significant improvement in patients' quality of life.