The Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA) and the São Paulo State University (Unesp) signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the Cannabis Development Center (NUDECAN) in the city of Ilha Solteira (SP).

The purpose of the document is to regulate technical-scientific cooperation, aiming to develop the production, extraction, and application of the potential of cannabis and its derivatives. The Minister of Agrarian Development, Paulo Teixeira, who was in Ilha Solteira to receive a “Citizen Title”, highlighted the relevance of the agreement.

According to the minister, the initiative places Unesp Ilha Solteira at the forefront of national research with the plant.

“We are entering into an agreement with Unesp to build a pharmaceutical industry based on medicinal cannabis, which has a very strong production worldwide. It can be used in combating chronic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, sleep disorders, as well as reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and antiretrovirals. Science is increasingly discovering the role of cannabis in health,” Teixeira stated.

The minister also emphasized that he will strive to boost research on medicinal cannabis developed at the Ilha Solteira campus by next year.