Two out of three Brazilians, equivalent to 66% of the population, claim to support the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes. The data, collected by PoderData in September 2025, represent the highest approval rate recorded since January 2022.

The survey also indicates that the number of people opposed to legalization has dropped by 5 percentage points, reaching 26%. The survey interviewed 2,500 people in 178 municipalities across all 27 Federative Units.

Support for medical cannabis is growing in the country

Historical data analysis reveals a gradual increase in support for the therapeutic use of the plant. Compared to October 2024, the number of favorable voters has risen by 6 percentage points. Prior to that, support for medical cannabis was at 54% in July 2022 and 56% in September 2023.

At the same time, rejection of medical cannabis has been progressively decreasing. The percentage of Brazilians opposed was 37% in 2022, decreased to 35% in 2023, 31% in 2024, and now reaches a low of 26%.

Legalization of other drugs still faces resistance

The survey also questioned respondents about the legalization of all drugs in Brazil. In this scenario, the majority of the population (58%) expressed opposition, although the rate has fluctuated 3 points lower since October 2024.

Only one in four Brazilians (26%) declared support for the general legalization of drugs, a rate 4 points higher than the previous year.

Profile of those who support medical cannabis

Support for the legalization of medical cannabis is stronger among young people aged 16 to 24, with a 71% approval rate. The majority remains in favor even among those aged 60 or older (63%).

Notably, the highest support comes from individuals with a primary education (74%). Approval is also robust in lower income brackets (67%) and among Catholics (68%), while among Evangelicals the rate is 60%.

The political landscape and the debate on medical cannabis

Researchers cross-referenced data on support for medical cannabis with voting declarations in the 2022 second round. Support is higher among voters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), with an 82% approval rate. Among those who voted for Jair Bolsonaro (PL), 45% are in favor.

When it comes to the legalization of all drugs, 35% of Lula's voters are in favor and 49% are against. Among Bolsonaro supporters, the difference is more pronounced: only 16% support the measure, while 70% are against.

Profile of the medical cannabis survey

The survey interviewed a representative sample of the Brazilian population, with a slight majority of women (53%) compared to men (47%). The predominant age group was 25 to 44 years, accounting for 41% of respondents, while the majority resides in the Southeast (43%) and Northeast (27%) regions.

In terms of socioeconomic profile, the survey shows that the majority of participants have completed high school (44%) or primary education (37%). Additionally, over half of the respondents (54%) belong to households with a family income of up to two minimum wages, indicating a broad base of respondents from different social classes.