Paulo Tavares: “Medical cannabis should be provided free of charge to patients”

Oncologist at the Oncology Service of the University of Coimbra Hospital, Paulo Freitas Tavares was born in October 1961 and graduated in Medicine from the University of Coimbra in 1985. Paulo Tavares has been advising his patients to use cannabis for over 30 years. oncology, monitoring and guiding their consumption.

Specialist in Clinical Hematology since 1993 and in Medical Oncology since 1997, Paulo Tavares is also a consultant in Clinical Hematology. He works essentially as an Oncologist and is responsible for the Locomotor System Tumors Unit at CHUC (Hospital Center of the University of Coimbra), named “Adult Oncology Reference Center — Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas” and a member of the European Reference Network (ERN). EURACAN). He gave radio and television interviews and was summoned as an expert witness by courts on the importance of the medical use of a banned substance at the time.

following the news of the approval of cannabis flowers with 18% THC in Portugal, the first to be authorized by Infarmed, we sent some questions to Paulo Freitas Tavares, to find out how he can use them in his clinical practice.

In your opinion, what does the approval of this first product on the market represent?
I am amazed at this approval given the information presented. Everything is strange. From being a Canadian company living off European funds to getting plants with <1% CBD safely by genetic engineering. This is not the product patients need, and I dare say it could be dangerous. In cannabis it is known that it is the mixture of several natural cannabinoids that make it effective and safe, counteracting the side effects of others.

Does the leaflet for healthcare professionals have all the information you need to prescribe?
It is clear and evident that it is not. Physicians need to know the exact composition of the preparation, to know all the compounds present and in what amounts. In the case of cannabis, know in detail the content of cannabinoids and terpenes. In addition, it is good practice to ensure that various possible contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria or fungi, have been analyzed and not found.

How many patients do you think could benefit from it?
Prescribed by me, none.

What is the selling price to the public that, in your view, would be the most affordable and appropriate for this type of product?
I argue that medical cannabis, given its importance, should be provided free of charge to patients by hospital pharmacies on prescription. Exactly as is done for most treatments for cancer, hepatitis, AIDS. The patient pays nothing.

What other products do you expect to see approved in the future in Portugal or which are the most needed by patients at the moment?
Patients need good, natural cannabis, grown outdoors, without pesticides or contaminants and with all the cannabinoids it has. Always with complete composition information! Cannabis as an agricultural product will vary with the terrain, the seeds used, and in the same terrain and with the same seed, it will be different in each harvest, like wine.

Do you have an idea of ​​how many of your patients currently benefit from cannabis and how they acquire it?
I have dozens of patients who have to use cannabis to survive and who unfortunately have to buy it on the black market at speculative prices.