Medicine and psychiatry entities oppose the decriminalization of marijuana

The Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) and the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry (ABP) reiterated their position against the decriminalization of marijuana in Brazil, which returns to judgment in the plenary of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) this Thursday (17). Medical entities have publicly expressed concern about the possible impacts of such a measure, which already has four votes in favor and none against.

The CFM and the ABP maintain that the decriminalization of marijuana could result in increased consumption, harm both individual and public health, and strengthen drug trafficking activities. Both institutions see considerable risks associated with the consumption of the drug, even under the “medicinal” pretext.

According to the entities, marijuana “causes a very serious dependence, with very important physical and mental damage, including precipitating psychotic conditions (some non-reversible) or aggravating symptoms and the evolution of sufferers of mental comorbidities of any nature, making their treatment difficult, leading to damage to all life”.

Additionally, drug use has been correlated with an increase in the rates of traffic accidents, homicides and suicides, with a global reduction and an increase being observed in the Brazilian context.

The CFM and the ABP point out that there is no historical precedent or scientific evidence to support the benefits of legalizing illicit substances. “On the contrary, it is in countries with greater rigor in the fight against drugs that there is a decrease in the number of cases of chemical dependency and violence related to the consumption and trafficking of these substances”, he says.

An example of this approach in Brazil, he says, is the anti-smoking campaign, which resulted in a drop in the consumption rate from 50% to around 10% of the population.

“Against the risks inherent in this debate, the Brazilian State should invest in effective strategies to combat drug trafficking, strengthen preventive and educational actions, especially with the most socially and economically vulnerable population, and expand and qualify the network of medical and psychosocial support to users”, complete the entities in a note.

Thus, CFM and ABP – based on technical and ethical arguments – and in defense of the interests of the majority of the population, which suffers the consequences generated by this serious and complex problem, with a negative impact on health and safety, both individually and collectively , call for this issue to be analyzed with due criteria, listening to society and seeking solutions that meet the interests of the Nation.

Minister Alexandre de Mores even proposed, in the vote, a maximum amount that would characterize mere possession: a limit of 60 grams of marijuana. Critics of the minister’s vote highlight the possibility that drug dealers will carry only 60 grams on each drug sale, which would rule out the possibility that they would be identified as drug dealers.