Anvisa approved the commercialization of products extracted from the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for therapeutic purposes, upon presentation of a medical prescription. However, cultivation of the plant, as well as its use without medical guidance, are still prohibited.
Several scientific studies prove that the cannabis plant has several active substances with therapeutic potential, including cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol, which are the main components and are found in greater concentration in the cannabis plant. See what benefits are scientifically proven.
Thus, it is expected that, from March 2020, it will be possible to buy some marijuana-based products in pharmacies in Brazil, with a prescription.
How to get products extracted from marijuana?
Before 4 December 2019, the sale of marijuana-based products in pharmacies in Brazil was prohibited. However, in special cases, some people could benefit from the medicinal properties of the plant, by importing products with CBD and THC, with special authorization from the doctor and Anvisa.
Currently, marijuana-based products are already authorized to be marketed in Brazil, for special situations, in which treatment with other drugs is not effective. In such cases, it is only necessary to present the prescription at the pharmacy to receive the medicine. In the case of higher concentrations of THC, this prescription has to be special.
When is medical marijuana indicated?
One of the situations where treatment with marijuana-based products has been used is in epilepsy, especially in refractory epilepsy, that is, epilepsy that does not improve with the usual medication and in which crises persist even with treatment. In these situations, CBD can reduce or even end crises and still contribute to the improvement of behavior and also to a cognitive improvement.
In addition, several studies have demonstrated several therapeutic properties of marijuana, namely THC and CBD, having already been used as a pharmacological option in several countries.
Although not yet widely used, some of the components of marijuana have been proven to have several clinical uses, such as:
- Relief of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; Stimulation of appetite in people with AIDS or cancer; Treatment of muscle stiffness and neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis; Treatment of pain in terminally ill patients with cancer; Treatment of obesity; Treatment of anxiety and depression; Decrease intraocular pressure; cancer treatment.
In most cases, cannabis products are only used when other treatments are ineffective and when the benefits outweigh the risks. Know the side effects of marijuana.
