According to a survey conducted by Kanna, an initiative that maps the cannabis production chain in Brazil, 82% of the cultivation of the plant in the country is intended for medicinal use. The company, which promotes 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 ecosystem of legal producers is already a reality in the country. Additionally, the platform allows participation in a governance certification process that 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 businessman, who explains that currently the company's validation process is done in a decentralized manner, where dozens of people participate and aim to assess the level of ESG compliance (Environmental, Social and Governance).  

“Soon we will have a B2C product that uses the same technology base. Both aim to register the cannabis production chain on the blockchain, to help with the transparency of the entire process.”  

The cannabis cultivation scenario 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 remaining 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 aimed at 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 medicinal cannabis cultivation in Brazil. They not only provide support and guidance for 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 now that national interest has awakened to this possibility. Today, associations are proving that it is indeed possible to have a quality and safe production necessary to unlock this agricultural potential that is Brazil, as we have 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 uses of the plant."

According to Sabaciauskis, the association, which was part of Kanna's mapping, currently has almost 6000 patients and about 3000 cannabis plants cultivated, generating 420kg of dry biomass for the production of medicines.

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.