Marcos Langenbach: Public consultation, advanced regulation or major setback?
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 by next Monday, the end of the consultation period.
Anvisa's public consultation may seem, on one hand, a step forward, as we begin to discuss regulation for cannabis cultivation in Brazil. But on the other hand, the foundations of the proposal are so poor that it might be better not to have it. Poorly done regulation can be worse than having no regulation at all, plain and simple.
This proposal could be a missed opportunity considering what the economy of Cannabis sativa can bring to Brazil. Today we are leaders in agribusiness, using high technology, and we have the excellent example of Embrapa, which is a global reference. Cannabis could be a new agricultural commodity, and as Sergio Rocha's article presented at the event 'Medicinal Cannabis: A Look to the Future' shows, we have over 80% of our territory with excellent conditions for planting the herb, with our semi-arid Northeast standing out for this type of agriculture. This region of extreme poverty could benefit greatly from more appropriate regulation than what is being presented by Anvisa.
Another important warning is the evident privilege for the billion-dollar industry that Anvisa's proposal seems to offer. It's as if it's saying to the Associations: 'okay, thank you for the fight but now we'll leave it to the big companies (marijuana multinationals).'
Continuing with high prices and not understanding that the needs and struggles of patients are not just about affordable prices, but also about research and possibilities of different types of Cannabis according to the specific needs of each disease.
Anvisa's movement is important, but it's not enough. Congress has been moving, despite its slow pace. Perhaps the Judiciary is the best alternative at this moment, through collective actions in the Supreme Court or individual ones in lower courts.
Most importantly, however, is the support of society, which is growing exponentially along with modern diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson's, autism, and others that are increasingly being treated with this ancient herb!
Also read
Wilson Lessa: what the University expects from regulation?
Leandro Ramires: production of medicinal cannabis in Brazil can increase access and reduce costs
Emílio Figueiredo: 'Anvisa must prevent people's suffering from being the object of greed'