The absence of the medicinal cannabis theme in public health debates

In the municipal elections of 2024, the issue of medicinal cannabis, despite its increasing relevance on the global stage, remains largely absent from discussions on public health proposed by the candidates for mayoralties and city councils throughout Brazil. This silence concerns experts and politicians who advocate for the inclusion of the topic in government platforms, aiming for a more comprehensive and humanized approach to health.

Senator Mara Gabrilli (PSD-SP), an active voice in defending the rights of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, laments the lack of political awareness on the subject. "Access to cannabis for medicinal purposes is an issue that should be in all government plans in these municipal elections. Although cannabidiol is already available in the SUS of the State of SP, it is still restricted to a few patients, and expanding this right is one of the most current public health issues. Life happens in cities, and a public official genuinely concerned about the population's health needs to delve into the topic", says the senator. Gabrilli also highlights that numerous countries have been heavily investing in the various possibilities of cannabis, whether in human and veterinary medicine, industrial, scientific, or even agribusiness fields.

Supporting this view, the governor of Sergipe, Fábio Mitidieri (PSD-SE), emphasizes that the topic is of public interest and cannot be ignored in political spheres. In 2015, he presented Bill 399, which regulates the medicinal uses of cannabis nationwide, during his term as a federal deputy at the time. "The medicinal use of cannabis is a public health and inclusion issue that needs to be discussed with society and implemented through serious and transparent policies to avoid misinterpretation regarding the legalization of psychotropic substances or the like", argues the governor.

Mitidieri also shares the actions his administration has implemented to ensure access to medicinal cannabis in the state. "In our administration, we have implemented the State Cannabis Policy and are in the second clinical protocol, which addresses the treatment of aggressive behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The first protocol, launched in December 2023, serves over 50 patients with refractory epilepsy, fitting into specific diseases such as Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)", he explains. The governor emphasizes that these initial patients are already experiencing significant improvements in their routines, without the need to resort to legal action to access treatment.

It is important to note, however, the existence of a Cannabis Caucus, a cross-party political movement that emerged in 2022 and continues its trajectory in 2024. Led by Maisa Diniz (Rede), the caucus brings together politicians of various ideologies who advocate for the legalization of cannabis and discuss topics such as public safety, market, and misinformation related to the plant.

As the elections approach, the expectation is that more candidates will recognize the need to include this issue in their proposals, aligning themselves with practices adopted in other countries and ensuring the well-being and quality of life of citizens.