Govt approved 113 applications to import cannabidiol

The compound, which is found in cannabis, has been reported to have

Published on 14/10/2014 - 09:41 By Aline Leal reports from Agência Brasil - Brasília

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) reported that it has received, since April, 167 exception applications to import marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) for personal use.

Out of this total, 113 applications have been approved so far, ten are pending procedures to be completed by applicants, and 39 are awaiting technical consideration. The remaining four were closed at the discretion of the applicant's family or following the patient's death. According to ANVISA, the time it takes to obtain the special permission has been a week on average.

Research has found that cannabinoids can have positive effects in patients with Parkinson's disease, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleep disorders and other disorders. But one major drawback, ANVISA points out, is that CBD supplies usually contain a small percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabis compound that is banned in Brazil as a psychoactive drug.

Furthermore, CBD has not had its therapeutic effects and its safety fully acknowledged by ANVISA, which is a requirement for marketing medicines in the country. This is why patients who wish to use the substance have to apply for special permission to import it. In fact, the agency board has already discussed allowing controlled CBD use in Brazil, but no final decision has been made so far.


Translated by Mayra Borges


Fonte: Govt approved 113 applications to use cannabidiol

Edition: Marcos Chagas / Augusto Queiroz

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