Access to medical cannabis is growing and requires safety | Dinosaur

The data reveals a significant expansion of therapeutic use in the country, which marks a decade since the first exceptional import regulations established by the DRC 17/2015. This resolution established the criteria for exceptional importation of medicines based on Cannabidiol (CBD). And this was considered a fundamental step to guarantee Brazilian patients’ access to treatments for various pathologies, such as refractory epilepsy, chronic pain and neurological disorders. From then on, the country began to follow a path of increasing demand for therapeutic alternatives based on cannabis.

Imports remain the main route to medicinal cannabis

In 2022, RDC 660 was released, which replaced RDC 17, modernizing the import process. The digitization of applications and the removal of the prior authorization requirement have made access more agile and less bureaucratic. The standard also allowed imports by natural and legal persons, making the process more flexible. The same year, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) updated its import platform and began recognizing dentists as qualified professionals to prescribe cannabis. As a result, this class has begun to incorporate the use of phytocannabinoids into treatments aimed at oral health.

Currently, this import route is the main channel used by Brazilian patients seeking extracts, oils and standardized laboratory formulations.

For Ana Gabriela Baptista, CEO of TegraPharma, a North American company that provides access to medicinal cannabis products in several countries, including Brazil, the advancement of data reveals a strategic moment. “The figures show that Brazil is experiencing a phase of consolidation of cannabis therapy, with more patients and more informed prescribers. Imports have played a critical role in ensuring safe and standardized access, particularly in a period of regulatory transition. Today, the therapy is more integrated into healthcare and has even greater growth potential in the years to come.

According to the Directory, imported products are identified to expand the therapeutic repertoire available in the country and to be subjected to independent analyzes of high precision, traceability and technical compliance. And, according to Ana Gabriela, the level of control results in more consistent formulations, which contributes to greater trust among healthcare professionals and better clinical outcomes for patients.

In this scenario, Ana Gabriela emphasizes that when we talk about imported cannabis products, it is a high quality standard. “Manufacturers follow strict international protocols, from cultivation to extraction, which guarantee the purity, safety and consistency of each batch. Excellence allows us to offer patients a reliable, traceable product and with predictable therapeutic results. In Brazil, despite the challenges, imports allow many patients to have access to different formulations and presentations of products manufactured with advanced technology and robust controls, which makes all the difference in the treatment”, emphasizes the specialist.

The scenario is confirmed in the figures. In 2025, according to the report, around 200,000 import requests are expected, the highest volume since authorizations began. The average rate exceeds 500 daily requests. And in June, Brazil recorded more than 17,000 new patients thanks to imports, setting a monthly record. This milestone is attributed to the consolidation of clinical recognition of the therapy and the advancement of medical prescribing via telemedicine, which, as the report argues, has expanded access to patients in different regions of the country.

Outlook for the years to come

The document’s projections indicate continued expansion of medicinal cannabis in the country, driven by regulatory maturity, the entry of new professionals into prescribing, and the expansion of access channels, particularly imports. The main trend, according to Ana Gabriela, is that medicinal cannabis is no longer considered a complementary therapy. And it’s starting to occupy a more structured space within care lines.

In line with the expert’s assessment, this comprehensive review titled “Medical Cannabis: From Research Advances to Shifts in Public Perception and Ensuring Safe Use” documents how cannabis has evolved from a stigmatized substance to a recognized medicine, with recent research, regulatory changes, and the impact on public and medical acceptance. And this includes both the monitoring of chronic patients and the management of neurological, inflammatory and psychiatric pathologies, as evidenced by the continued growth in prescriptions in recent years. “The progress we are experiencing should consolidate medicinal cannabis in the context of health care. More and more doctors, dentists and veterinarians will integrate this therapeutic alternative into their practice, always supported by scientific evidence and safety protocols,” he says.

She emphasizes that the role of science will continue to be decisive in guiding the growth of the sector and ensuring the protection of patients: “It is science that guides this process. As new studies, systematic reviews, and clinical data accumulate, professionals in different fields become more confident in prescribing and monitoring their patients. This has a direct impact on access, compliance and quality of treatment.