The regulation of the law that establishes the free provision of medicinal cannabis by the SUS in Pernambuco was the central theme of a debate in the Legislative Assembly. The meeting of the Medicinal Cannabis Parliamentary Front, held this Monday (29), discussed the next steps for the implementation of Law No. 18,757/2024, which came into effect in April.

During the meeting, a proposal from the mandate of Deputy João Paulo (PT), the author of the law, was presented to regulate the distribution of medications by the Pernambuco Pharmacy and other public health units. The measure aims to guarantee free access for patients with a medical prescription.

Proposal to regulate cannabis in the SUS

The draft regulation, prepared by legislative consultant Vitor Barreto, was detailed at the meeting. He emphasized the technical nature and legal certainty of the document, which has already been submitted to the State Health Department.

“The text provides clear rules on the criteria and flows for patients to access medications, with medical monitoring and controlled use,” explained Barreto. According to him, the proposal ensures transparency and establishes who can have access to the treatment and in what way.

Pernambuco Government evaluates proposal

Representing the State Government, Executive Secretary Renan Freitas praised the presented text. He informed that his department should present its own regulation proposal within a period of one to two months, with a commitment to discuss it with the Parliamentary Front.

“The Department is open to this project. The government recognizes the importance of this policy and wants to participatively build its implementation,” stated Freitas.

Urgency in the regulation of the Law

Deputy João Paulo recalled that the deadline for the presentation of the regulation by the Health Department expired on September 11. He reinforced the appeal for the process to be concluded urgently.

“The law has been approved, but the final step is missing, which is its regulation. Each day without this norm represents more pain and more inequality,” stated the parliamentarian. “It is necessary to ensure that the recognized right becomes an effective public policy”.

What the Law on medicinal cannabis in Pernambuco says

Law No. 18,757/2024 establishes that the free provision of cannabis-based medications be made through prescription and clinical monitoring. The text also foresees the creation of a technical committee to monitor the use of products and train healthcare professionals.

The proposal aims to guarantee safe and free access to treatments for diseases such as refractory epilepsy, Parkinson's, autism, chronic pain, and cancer, among others. The initiative was developed with the collaboration of patient associations, physicians, and jurists.