Current legislation on medical cannabis. History, movements, trends and counter-tendencies, in the Brazilian territory

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cannabis sativa is a plant that has been used by humankind for many years and is in the media spotlight due to its pharmacological features, being considered the great therapeutic option of the century. With the advent of the Drug Law (Lei de Drogas - Law No. 11,343/2006) there was a starting point for the situation of cannabis in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this narrative review was to discuss information about legal issues regarding cannabis in the Brazilian territory. CONTENTS: The Collegiate Directorate Resolution (Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada - RDC) No. 327 of December 2019, published by Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - ANVISA), provides on the procedures for granting health authorization for manufacturing and importation, as well as establishes requirements for marketing, prescription, storage, monitoring and surveillance of cannabis products for medicinal purposes to human use. The Bill of Law (Projeto de Lei - PL) No. 399/2015, proposed to amend article 2 of Law No. 11,343, of August 23, 2006, to enable planting and marketing of drugs containing extracts, substrates or parts of the cannabis plant. CONCLUSION: Cannabis cultivation in Brazil would make a great contribution not only to the pharmaceutical industry, but also to the agricultural industry, generating jobs and reducing raw material costs for drugs. However, the slow pace of Brazilian politics would be an obstacle. There is a need for more consolidated and specific legislation to regulate cannabis.