The Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina (Alesc) received, last week, 50 new propositions for analysis and possible approval. Among them is the Bill (PL) 563/2025, which deals with the allocation of Cannabis sativa plants seized in the State exclusively for scientific purposes and for the production of medicines, in accordance with federal legislation.

Deputy Paulinha's (Podemos) initiative will be analyzed by the permanent committees of Alesc, going through the Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ); Labor, Administration and Public Service Committee; Public Safety Committee; and Health Committee. After the opinion of the legislative house's committees, the text will move on to the deputies' vote in the plenary.

Cannabis allocation rules

According to the project, the allocation of the plant must strictly follow Federal Law No. 11,343/2006 and the rules of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). Recreational, commercial, or any other unforeseen use will be prohibited.

The execution of the law will depend on prior authorization from the competent federal agencies, especially Anvisa and the police authority responsible for the seizure. The custody, analysis, and release of the plants will be under the responsibility of the competent authorities, with the knowledge of the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina, which must be informed in advance.

Only public or private institutions authorized by the federal government will be able to receive cannabis for research or medicine production. The coordination will be the responsibility of the State Health Department, which may enter into agreements with universities, research centers, and duly accredited laboratories.

Reference at the federal level

In 2024, a similar proposal was presented in the Chamber of Deputies by Deputy João Carlos Bacelar Batista (PV-BA). The PL 2726/2024 provides that seized cannabis be allocated to medicinal research laboratories, instead of being destroyed, amending the current Anti-Drug Law. The federal project has been awaiting the rapporteur's opinion in the Health Committee (CSAUDE) since the end of 2024.

Former Anvisa director and professor specialized in health regulation, Jaime César de M. Oliveira, advocates for the use of plants seized by the police for the production of pharmaceutical inputs. According to him, current technology already allows ensuring the safety and quality of the final product. "It is regulation based on the product and not on the process," he states.

Other proposals on the agenda at Alesc

In the same week, the deputies approved PSA 1/2025, authored by Deputy Padre Pedro Baldissera (PT). The proposition suspends the sole paragraph of Art. 6 and Art. 7 of Decree No. 988/2025, which regulates State Law No. 19,136/2024, on the free supply of cannabis-based medicines.

According to the authors, the revoked items violate medical autonomy and the technical autonomy of the committee responsible for reviewing and applying the protocols for the use of cannabidiol, which, in the view of the parliamentarians, would hinder the execution of the state policy.