Brazil: Santa Cannabis obtains authorization to grow cannabis for medicinal purposes

The association Santa Cannabis became the first association in southern Brazil to receive authorization to cultivate cannabis and produce plant-based medicines. The Federal Court granted Santa Cannabis, located in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, authorization to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes, marking a historic decision for the association. Since 2019, Santa Cannabis has already cultivated cannabis for many of its 3.400 associates, but it did so on the basis of civil disobedience. 

Pedro Sabaciauskis, founder of Santa Cannabis, told Cannareporter that this long-awaited decision “represents security for our associates and collaborators, in addition to opening up the possibility of partnership with universities, state departments and research centers, in the search for ensure a safe, affordable supply that is produced, processed, researched, distributed nationally, at low cost and provided to all through the public health system”

Pedro also recalled that the inspiration to found the Santa Cannabis association came after treating his grandmother, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. The story of Pedro Sabaciauskis and Santa Cannabis had already been told by Cannareporter in 2021.

Brazil has a strong associative movement in medical cannabis
Unlike Portugal, Brazil has more than 30 medical cannabis associations, with a considerable power of intervention and claim. In addition to Santa Cannabis, other associations already use or grow medicinal cannabis for their patients, such as embrace, hug, abracannabis, apepi, love+me, cultivate, Mary flower, Life's flower, Public, Cannabis League, mums, curapro, and ACCURA. Some of them also have cultivation authorization granted by Brazilian courts. 

Santa Cannabis not only produces medicines but also supplies courses on cultivation and extraction of cannabis for medicinal purposes. In addition, it offers patient care services and even a podcast. Despite facing legal challenges and arrests, Santa Cannabis has persisted in civil disobedience and continues to provide assistance to its 3400 member families. 

Corruption and high prices worry associations
Sabaciauskis expressed concern about the recent spate of states in Brazil that have passed laws to distribute cannabis medications through the SUS, the national public health system. the President of Santa Cannabis believes that domestic production would be more beneficial for the country as a whole, rather than opening the door to international markets to exploit patients and drain limited SUS funds. According to Pedro, the international market for CBD currently has a surplus of products that are being launched in the Brazilian market, taking advantage of high exchange rates and generating profits for corrupt politicians. 

The authorization granted to Santa Cannabis is a significant victory for the medical cannabis community in Brazil. The association's dedication to providing access to high-quality cannabis medicines and education will continue to benefit patients and their families, even in the face of legal challenges and political opposition.