Ministry of Culture to allocate $461,000 for documentary on medical cannabis

The Ministry of Culture (MinC), through the Secretariat of Audiovisual, authorized on Friday (23) the raising of $461,000 for the production of the documentary "Tempo Bom", which will portray the use of medical cannabis in Brazil, addressing the regulatory, scientific, and social scenario of therapy in the country.

The approval was published in the Official Gazette through Ordinance SAV/MINC No. 3. The project was proposed by the Civil Association Dragões do Mar, based in Fortaleza (CE).

The initiative is allowed to raise $461,352.38 through the Cultural Incentive Law by the end of this year. The focus is to investigate the therapeutic potential of the plant and its impacts on society.

Narrative and culture in the work on medical cannabis

The audiovisual production is described as a medium-length film focused on sector investigation. The central narrative is based on real stories, gathering reports from patients, family members, health professionals, and researchers working with medical cannabis.

According to the project summary approved by the department, the film seeks to combine "science, art, and Northeastern popular culture in a poetic and educational narrative". The structure foresees the use of regional elements, such as cordel literature and graffiti, in addition to an original soundtrack.

The ordinance establishes that the work must ensure complete accessibility. This includes resources such as Libras, audio description, subtitles, and Braille to democratize access to the medical cannabis theme.

The "green wave" of medical cannabis in national cinema

The approval of "Tempo Bom" comes at a time of effervescence for Brazilian audiovisual, which started 2026 under global spotlights after the historic award at the Golden Globe, with the film "Secret Agent".

The movement reflects a paradigm shift that began in the past decade with the documentary "Illegal", which opened the doors to public debate on therapeutic use. Since then, medical cannabis has ceased to be a restricted taboo to occupy screens with various approaches.

Recent projects demonstrate the plurality of narratives that the sector has been exploring. For experts in the cultural and health sectors, this "green wave" on screens is essential for the normalization of medical cannabis. 

Distribution of the documentary on medical cannabis

The distribution plan of the documentary supported by MinC includes screenings in various formats and locations. Screenings are planned at film festivals, television channels, cine clubs, and streaming platforms.

The ordinance published today also approved the raising of funds for other audiovisual initiatives, in addition to the medical cannabis project. MinC approved the series "Reciclando 360º", in São Paulo, and the itinerant project "Cinema de Calçada - Festival Nordestino", in Alagoas.