According to a survey conducted by Kanna, an initiative that maps the productive chain of cannabis in Brazil, 82% of the plant cultivation, in national territory, is destined for medicinal use. The company, which encourages sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, used a data storage tool to map the various types of cultivation, including plantations for medicinal, research, and industrial purposes.

"Our tool mapped a significant number of cultivations, highlighting the growing importance of medicinal cannabis in Brazil and reinforcing that the legal producers' ecosystem is already a reality in the country. In addition, the platform allows participation in a governance certification process, which uses blockchain technology to bring trust to the sector," says Luís Quintanilha, CEO of Kanna.

"The goal is to support the regulation of cannabis in the country," says the entrepreneur, who explains that currently the company's validation process is done in a decentralized manner, where dozens of people participate and aim to evaluate the level of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliance.  

"Soon we will have a product for B2C that uses the same technology base. Both aim to record the cannabis productive chain on the blockchain, to help in the transparency of the entire process."  

The scenario of cannabis cultivation in Brazil

The research identified a total of 39 cannabis cultivations, with a significant concentration in the state of São Paulo, which has 11 plantations. Following are the states of Rio de Janeiro with five cultivations, Pernambuco with four, and Santa Catarina with three, while the other 16 cultivations are distributed across other Brazilian states.

In addition to the 82% dedicated to medicinal use, Kanna's analysis revealed that 7.7% of the cultivations are focused on scientific research, 5.1% have an industrial focus, and 5.1% are intended for patients with judicial authorizations for cultivation.  

The role of patient associations

Patient associations play a crucial role in advancing the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Brazil. They not only offer support and guidance to patients who depend on the products but also drive the regulation and recognition of this practice.

Pedro Sabaciauskis, founder and president of the association Santa Cannabis, which has judicial authorization for the cultivation of plants for medicinal purposes, explains:

"I believe that cultivation on national soil is the solution and there is no turning back once national interest has awakened to this possibility. Today, associations are proving that it is possible to have our own production with the quality and safety necessary to unlock this agricultural potential that is Brazil, since we have the land, skilled labor, and appropriate climate, the government just needs to contribute. Perhaps the creation of a national cannabis plan would help understand the correct paths to follow in building a safe and regulated environment for all plant uses."

According to Sabaciauskis, today the association, which was part of Kanna's mapping, has nearly 6000 patients and about 3000 plant feet cultivated, generating 420kg of dry biomass for medication production.

Kanna's survey not only highlights the predominance of medicinal cannabis use in Brazil but also reinforces the need for clearer regulations and the essential role of patient associations in promoting safe and legal access to medicinal cannabis.