MEDICAL CANNABIS: PHARMACEUTICAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES IN THE CURRENT BRAZILIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

In recent years, medical cannabis has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of various clinical conditions, especially in cases refractory to conventional therapies, such as epilepsy, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and neurological disorders. In Brazil, although there have been regulatory advances promoted by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the scenario is still marked by significant obstacles in both pharmaceutical and regulatory spheres.

This article aims to critically analyze the main challenges currently faced in Brazil regarding the safe, effective, and ethical incorporation of medical cannabis. Based on a narrative review of scientific literature, regulatory standards, and institutional documents, the discussion addresses the complexity of standardizing cannabis-based products, the lack of consistent technical guidelines for compounding and prescription, gaps in the training of healthcare professionals, and the fragility of the current legal framework.

Furthermore, ethical and public health issues related to unequal access to cannabinoid treatments are explored, highlighting the impacts of the judicialization of healthcare and the role of civil associations in filling gaps left by the State. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary and integrative approach involving legislative advances, investments in national clinical research, more robust technical regulation, and inclusive public policies that ensure universal and safe access to medical cannabis.