Brazil authorized the use of marijuana-based drugs for medical purposes

The Brazilian National Agency for Health Control (Anvisa) has authorized the production and use of marijuana-based drugs for medical purposes. The regulator said this on its website on Tuesday.

The permit is temporary and may be reviewed after three years. During this period, Anvisa expects to receive the results of ongoing scientific and technical research worldwide, which would confirm the effectiveness and safety of such drugs.

It is noted that it will be possible to buy them in the form of tablets, solutions or oils only by prescription, despite the fact that they will not receive the status of medicines. At the same time, the requirements for the release of drugs with a content of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol more than 0.2% will be similar to the rules of morphine sales.

Simultaneously with the regulations on the sale of new class “cannabis-based products”, Anvisa approved the procedure for their production, import, control and monitoring of their turnover, as well as the rules for issuing the relevant prescriptions. Thus, it will be possible to produce them only industrially, and the liberalization of imports into the country will apply only to semi-finished products for the pharmaceutical industry. To monitor the circulation of drugs, the regulator plans to develop a special program under which all national manufacturers will provide it with information about their products.