In record time: City Council approves distribution of medicinal cannabis and sanction is on the way

On Monday, the 9th, the City Council of Pereira Barreto, a municipality in the interior of São Paulo with about 24,000 inhabitants, approved the bill that establishes the Municipal Policy of free supply of cannabis-derived products - a plant with therapeutic properties and widely studied, rich in phytocannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol), THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), among other bioactive compounds. The measure represents a breakthrough in health access for patients who rely on alternative therapies in the municipality.

According to Councilman Daniel César Oliveira De Melo, better known as Daniel da Rádio, the mayor's office is considering sanctioning it as early as next week. "This Friday (the 13th), I will have a meeting at the mayor's office to present specific demands. We want to study the best way to sanction the law and issue the decree in the following days, seeking to enable access to medication as early as 2025," he stated.

The councilman also emphasized that the City Hall intends to establish partnerships with state and federal governments to expand the reach and ensure sustainability of the medicinal cannabis policy in Pereira Barreto.

Demand arose from a group of atypical mothers

According to Councilman Daniel da Rádio, the initiative arose from a demand presented by the Support Group for Atypical Mothers (GAMA), representing about 120 families with autistic children in the city.

"From there, we studied the topic and reached out to Congressman Caio França, who guided us on how to build a suitable bill for the specific demand of the municipality," explained the councilman.

After presenting the bill, the parliamentarian also began receiving individualized demands from patients with degenerative diseases and epilepsy, strengthening the scope of the proposal.

THC on an exceptional basis is also provided for

The proposal also provides, on an exceptional basis, the supply of products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The medications will be distributed through the Municipal Unified Health System (SUS).

The new municipal policy aims to align the therapeutic use of medicinal cannabis with public health standards, providing support to patients whose pathologies show significant improvement with the use of plant derivatives.

The legislation aims to assist patients with chronic, neurological, psychiatric, and degenerative diseases, provided there is evidence of therapeutic efficacy and a medical prescription.

Implementation of the policy will be led by a specialized commission

According to the project, the Municipal Health Department will have 30 days, from the publication of the law, to create a working committee with the aim of implementing the policy guidelines. The committee should include health technicians and representatives of non-profit associations focused on supporting, researching, and representing patients who use medicinal cannabis.