Marcel Grecco: planting only indoor makes a cheap medication unfeasible

26/03/2026 07h42

We are entering the final week for public consultations by Anvisa on medicinal cannabis in Brazil. Therefore, the portal Sechat asked personalities involved in the sector to write articles about their contributions to the debate. The texts will be published until next Monday, the end of the consultation period.

The regulation of medicinal cannabis proposed by Anvisa is far from ideal, but it is certainly a major step forward on the subject for Brazil. The premise of indoor-only cultivation may render one of the main objectives of this regulation unattainable, which is to lower the cost of treatment for patients. In the second public hearing, there was an indication that this should be reviewed by bringing some other alternatives.

Another relevant point is why hemp is not being considered as an alternative to CBD, considering that Brazil has all the conditions to be a major producer. In my opinion, CBD should not be subject to clinical studies and should not only be available in pharmacies, but also in supermarkets and specialized stores without the need for a medical prescription, as is done in several American states.

Cannabis is different from any other plant due to its richness of possibilities. Therefore, why not consider the development of good cultivation practices manuals for patient associations, the possibility of classifying this plant as an herbal medicine, and the possibility of manipulation through green pharmacies. These are topics that cannot be left out of the discussion, as I believe that with the use of technology, it is possible to develop control mechanisms in all these situations, always aiming for safe and responsible use by patients.

Data collection and structuring are key parts of this process, so constant monitoring of the different regulations worldwide should be included in the regulations, as well as how effective the model chosen by Brazil is. This is essential for the improvement of what is being considered in this initial regulation proposal.