Access to treatment with Medicinal Cannabis in Brazil: Systematic review

Abstract

The lack of regulation and bureaucracy in the therapeutic use of medical cannabis make access to effective treatments difficult for vulnerable patients.Given this reality, the main objective of this study is to analyze access to medical cannabis treatment in the Brazilian context. This is a systematic review study conducted according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review Protocols (PRISMA), focusing on answering what are the main gaps and challenges in accessing medical cannabis treatment in Brazil? Despite the proven health benefits of CBD, the debate over its medicinal use remains heterogeneous and controversial. Administrative and legal issues and moralistic discourses make access to medicinal Cannabis products difficult, despite existing regulations. Additional restrictions, such as CFM's limitation on CBD prescription, further complicate access. While the social benefits of cannabis legalization are debated and the evidence on its impacts on public health remains inconclusive, the need for simplified regulation to ensure access to cannabis-based medicines is crucial to promoting a better quality of life for patients and ensure fundamental rights to health and dignity.