Medical Cannabis Generates R$ 485 Million in Brazil

The Brazilian medical cannabis market generated R$ 485.4 million in the 12 months ending in August 2026, a 15% increase compared to the previous period. The data from consulting firm Close-Up International was released by the portal Brasil Economy in an article published on November 3. Commercial growth and changes in sanitary regulations will be among the topics at Cannabis Connection 2026, held this Thursday (5), in São Paulo.

Organized by Sechat, the gathering brings together representatives from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the pharmaceutical industry, retail, and research institutions to discuss the economic landscape, regulatory shifts, and challenges facing the sector's development.

In August 2022, accumulated 12-month revenue across channels monitored by the consultancy stood at R$ 106.1 million. In four years, that figure has more than quadrupled.

Medical Cannabis Market Grows in Pharmacies

In pharmacies and drugstores alone, sales of medical cannabis products reached R$ 289.8 million in the 12 months ending in August 2026, a 16.5% year-over-year increase. In volume, approximately 953,000 units were sold, representing a 31% growth.

The survey also highlights an increase in the number of prescribing healthcare professionals. The count of prescribing physicians rose from 58,996 to 78,075, an increase of 32.3%. Over the same interval, prescriptions surged by 37.9%, climbing from 386,121 to 532,646.

In pharmaceutical retail, products formulated with isolated cannabidiol (CBD) accounted for 60.6% of revenue, while extracts represented 39.4%. Despite holding a smaller share, extracts experienced faster growth: 25.3% year-over-year, compared to 11.5% for isolated CBD-based products.

The figures do not represent the entirety of the Brazilian market. Close-Up regularly monitors drugstore and pharmacy operations, while other channels are evaluated through targeted studies. Therefore, the reported values should be understood within the scope tracked by the consultancy.

Anvisa and the Challenges of Regulation

Market growth coincides with an update of sanitary regulations for cannabis products. One of the main themes at Cannabis Connection is the implementation of RDC 1,015/2026, which updated the rules for manufacturing, importing, and commercializing products intended for human medicinal use, replacing RDC 327/2019.

The regulation establishes criteria for sanitary authorization of industrialized products containing CBD or Cannabis sativa L. extracts and governs procedures related to distribution, prescription, dispensing, and monitoring.

Ana Cecília Carvalho, specialist in the regulation of medicines and phytotherapeutics at Anvisa, is participating in the event to discuss the impacts of the regulatory update and the sector's upcoming challenges.

In an interview with Sechat, the specialist evaluated that Brazil has a substantial regulatory framework in place for access to these products.

“Brazil has one of the best regulatory frameworks for access to industrialized products derived from Cannabis sativa L. Brazilian regulations are internationally recognized as models for the regulation of herbal medicines and Cannabis products.”

According to Ana Cecília, the agency's work has paved regulatory pathways to make these products available in the country. Currently, 55 cannabis products are authorized by Anvisa for commercialization in the domestic market.

“Anvisa acted effectively and technically, within its legal mandates, to provide access to safe, quality products for the Brazilian population through RDC 327/2019 and, now, RDC 1015/2026. Currently, there are 55 Cannabis products authorized by the Agency for commercialization in the domestic market.”

The specialist also emphasizes the importance of expanding scientific evidence regarding safety and efficacy, particularly to establish dosages, treatment duration, potential drug interactions, and adverse reactions.

“We understand that the primary challenges relate to completing studies that prove safety and efficacy for the final classification of these products as medicines, taking into account all the stages that must be developed.”

For Ana Cecília, these studies are essential to guide healthcare professionals and improve the information available about the products.

“Studies are essential to determine the most appropriate doses for each formulation and population group, maximum duration of use, potential drug interactions, and adverse reactions—information that remains little known today, yet is crucial for defining the risks associated with these products.”

Pharmaceutical Retail: Turning Access into Availability

The role of pharmaceutical retail in expanding access to medical cannabis will also be among the topics at Cannabis Connection 2026. Milena Rocha, head of the Prescription Medications vertical at Grupo DPSP, which comprises the Drogarias São Paulo and Drogarias Pacheco retail chains, is attending the event in São Paulo.

<text>Milena Rocha, from Grupo DPSP, will discuss the role of pharmaceutical retail in access to medical cannabis during Cannabis Connection 2026.</text>

With over 20 years of experience in commercial strategy, business development, and innovation in the healthcare sector, the executive plans to share the group's journey and discuss how pharmacy chains have positioned themselves to serve patients using cannabis-based products.

In her invitation to the event, Milena highlighted a challenge regarding the gap between regulatory access to products and their actual availability to patients.

“On November 5th, we have a meeting to discuss Medical Cannabis, a topic that has been gaining prominence in healthcare discussions. But, looking at it from the perspective of pharmaceutical retail, there is still one issue I consider very important. How do we turn this access into availability for our patients?” she stated.

The discussion encompasses various stages of the supply chain, such as prescription, health regulation, distribution, and dispensing. With the surge in sales and prescriptions highlighted by the survey, product availability on pharmacy shelves becomes vital for patient care.

Regulation, Research, and Cultivation in Sectoral Debate

The importance of discussing regulatory and technical pathways for the industry is emphasized by Carolina Sellani, head of the Cannabis Ingredients Working Group (GT) at the Brazilian Association of the Pharmaceutical Ingredients Industry (ABIQUIFI).

In evaluating the opportunity to discuss regulatory directions directly, Sellani stressed the relevance of addressing technical matters that influence the productive chain's development.

“We had the opportunity to listen to those making the regulations and discuss research, the revision of the cannabis product rule, cultivation...”, she stated.

The ABIQUIFI representative also highlighted the critical moment the industry is experiencing and the need to advance discussions on solid technical grounds.

“[We are] currently living through a decisive moment for these issues to move forward in an important, relevant, technical way,” she said.

Regulatory changes impact companies, researchers, and other stakeholders involved in developing the supply chain. Therefore, understanding the scope of the rules and following discussions on their implementation are key elements in evaluating potential paths forward for the Brazilian market.

Cannabis Connection Takes Place Today in São Paulo

Cannabis Connection 2026 is organized by Sechat and convenes professionals from diverse segments to examine the landscape of medical cannabis and industrial hemp in Brazil.

Featuring a program geared toward market intelligence, regulatory updates, and business opportunities, the event takes place amid expanding sales and prescriptions, as documented by Close-Up International data.

Event Details

Cannabis Connection 2026

Date: November 5, 2026
Location: São Paulo (SP)
Schedule and information: https://cannabisconnection.com.br/