Cannabis in Brazil

Cannabis in Brazil is illegal and criminalized, but possession and cultivation of personal amounts and for private use were de-penalized in 2006.[1] Use of cannabis medications is allowed for terminally ill patients or those who have exhausted other treatment options.

Marcha da Maconha, Rio de Janeiro, 2014

History

Cannabis was introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese colonists in the early 1800s. Their intent may have been to cultivate hemp fiber, but the slaves the Portuguese trafficked from Africa were familiar with cannabis and used it psychoactively, leading the Municipal Council of Rio de Janeiro in 1830 to prohibit bringing cannabis into the city, and punishing its use by any slave.[2]

Medical cannabis

Since 2015, cannabis medications greater than 0.2% THC can be prescribed for terminally ill patients or those who have exhausted other treatment options. Initially these medications could only be imported with special authorization from ANVISA, but in 2019 the rules were relaxed to allow pharmacy sales. Products less than 0.2% THC can be prescribed with less restriction.[3][4]

In January 2017 Brazil issued its first license for a cannabis-based medicine, allowing sales of Mevatyl oral spray (internationally known as Sativex).[5]

In March 2020, the State of Pernambuco issued the first national license for the homemade planting of marijuana for medicinal purposes.[6]

Enforcement

Since 2006, public use of cannabis entails a warning, community service and education on the effects of drug use. The same measures apply to public use any illegal drug.[1] However, there are strong reports of municipal guards themselves applying punishment upon civilian blatant use of marijuana, either minors or adults, with or without other associated crimes.[7] Similar reports are available in online forums [8] but are mainly available by word of mouth, mainly in poor communities.

Selling, transportation, and trafficking of drugs are considered criminal acts and are punished with 5 to 15 years in prison and a significant fine.[9]

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References
  1. Professor Anita Kalunta-Crumpton (28 June 2015). Pan-African Issues in Drugs and Drug Control: An International Perspective. Ashgate Publis,ing, Ltd. pp. 242–. ISBN 978-1-4724-2214-9.
  2. Robert Clarke; Mark Merlin (1 September 2013). Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. University of California Press. pp. 182–. ISBN 978-0-520-95457-1.
  3. Ponieman, Natan (3 December 2019). "Brazil Regulates Sale Of Medical Marijuana Products". Benzinga. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  4. "Brazil approves sale of medical cannabis in pharmacies". Yahoo News. AFP. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  5. Reuters Editorial (2017-01-16). "Brazil issues first license for sale of a cannabis-based drug". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  6. Diário de Pernambuco (2020-03-27). "Defensoria consegue primeira autorização definitiva para plantio de maconha em PE". Diário de Pernambuco. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  7. Polícia analisa vídeo de adolescentes obrigados a comer maconha em MS (in portuguese), globo.com
  8. Guardas Municipais São Acusados De Obrigar Jovem A Engolir Maconha (in portuguese), growroom.net
  9. Law 11.343, planalto.gov.br


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