Rio de Janeiro advances in research on medicinal cannabis with partnership between UFRRJ and patient association

In order to promote advances that guarantee the quality, efficacy, and safety of cannabis-based products, the Brazilian Association of Access of Rio de Janeiro (AbraRio) and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) have entered into a five-year partnership.

The main focus of the Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is the development of guidance, support, and innovation actions in processes related to the cultivation of Cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The proposal includes everything from standardizing cultivation to improving protocols that ensure the therapeutic efficacy of products intended for the association's members.

Among the research areas, aspects such as genetic selection, propagation, phytosanitary control, and quality assurance will be addressed. The agreement establishes a five-year work plan, encompassing a wide range of activities, from technical guidance to the implementation of innovative processes.

Commitment to access to safe medicines

"We are building a solid foundation to ensure that patients have access to safe medicines, with rigorous quality control and produced based on the most advanced technical knowledge available," highlights Marilene Esperança, president of AbraRio, in a note.

Marilene also emphasizes that the development of the medicinal cannabis production chain in Brazil depends on investment in scientific research and collaboration between civil society, universities, and the government.

Start of tests with clones and phenotypic focus

Agronomist Dennys Zsolt, a student of the Postgraduate Program in Organic Agriculture (PPGAO/UFRRJ), sees the partnership as a groundbreaking advance for the state of Rio de Janeiro.

"This is a long-term initiative that will give rise to various experiences from this moment on. We start with the basics, using clones, focusing on phenotypic and genetic expression, as well as beginning the first field experiments at AbraRio's headquarters," he explains.

At the end of May 2025, Dennys Zsolt was present at the 4th edition of the Brazilian Medicinal Cannabis Congress, the main scientific and professional event in Latin America dedicated to promoting innovations and advances in the medicinal use of cannabis.

As a speaker in an exclusive module to discuss Agribusiness, Zsolt presented the current scenario of cannabis in Brazil and left a message for new entrepreneurs: "It's not a market for adventurers".