Is Brazil Stalling the Future of Cannabis? Experts Discuss the Delays and Paths to Unlock the Country's Potential
In Deusa Cast #46, experts like Jaime Ozi analyze the barriers preventing Brazil from advancing in cannabis regulation and highlight the impact of the lack of research, medical education, and access.
Brazil is facing a deadlock that seems never-ending: on one side, the advancement of Anvisa's resolutions that ensure safety and quality for patients; on the other, the sluggishness in releasing cultivation and scientific research with cannabis. In the episode #46 of Deusa Cast, cannabis consultant Jaime Ozi highlighted that, despite the country being seen as a global reference in medicinal use, it is still trapped in a restrictive mindset that hinders the full development of the sector.
“Brazil is increasingly standing out as a global reference in the use of medicinal cannabis, closely linked to the legislation created by Anvisa and the requirement for a medical prescription. But that is not enough. We have taken an important step, now we need to convince other segments,” said Ozi.
According to the expert, research institutions like Embrapa have already shown interest in studying hemp and its applications in agribusiness, but still face legal limitations that prevent planting even for scientific purposes. “It is contradictory to say that there is no research while we do not stimulate or allow it to happen,” he emphasized.
Medical Education and Mindset: The Real Barriers
For Ozi, the biggest obstacle to the consolidation of cannabis in the country is not legal, but educational and cultural. He noted that the endocannabinoid system, responsible for regulating vital functions such as sleep, mood, and immunity, is still not part of basic medical training. “We have almost 600,000 doctors in Brazil, but only a small portion truly understands the potential of cannabis. Prejudice within the medical class itself continues to be one of the biggest barriers,” he highlighted.
The consultant also stressed that this lack of preparation directly impacts those who need it most: the patients. “While we debate bureaucracies, there are families fighting every day to secure access to treatment. These are mothers, fathers, caregivers who see cannabis as an effective and safe alternative, but still face a long road to relief.”
The debate promoted by Deusa Cast, which also featured journalist Luiza Silveira (Globo Rural) and cannabis consultant Marcelo Grecco, reinforces that the cannabis agenda in Brazil goes far beyond economics and regulation: it is about science, empathy, and political will. And, as experts warn, the country's future in this market, which moves billions worldwide, depends on the ability to break prejudices and invest in information and research.
Watch below the insights from the cannabis consultant: