The Rio City Council is expected to vote in the coming days on Council Member Paolo Messina’s draft that sets municipal policy on the use of cannabidiol for medical purposes. The proposal establishes guidelines for expanding access to substance-based treatment, which Anvisa has already authorized in various clinical situations.
If the law is approved, patients treated in the municipal public network will have the right to receive CBD-based products for free, as long as they meet the requirements already set forth in federal regulations. Medicines should only be provided by Anvisa-approved companies and during the period specified by the doctor.
To receive treatment, the patient will need to present a prescription signed by a qualified specialist from the public network, as well as a report that includes a case description, ICD and clinical justification. In cases of imported products, specific authorization from Anvisa will be required.
In justification, Messina says that families living with pain and suffering “are also in a hurry,” and argues that public authorities should facilitate access to treatments that bring relief. He highlights that CBD has gained ground in research into epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, cancer, anxiety and sleep disorders, as well as being increasingly used by clinicians in the treatment of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“It is safe to use, and often has fewer side effects than conventional medications,” says the consultant.