Understand the ban on importing marijuana flowers – 07/21/2023 – Health

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) prohibited this Wednesday (19) the importation of the flower, and any other part of the plant, of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Among the justifications, the agency claims that there is no scientific evidence to prove the safety of the plant and that there is a high potential for diversion of the product for illicit purposes.

Understand, below, the prohibition and its implications.

IS THIS THE END OF CANNABIS DRUGS?

No. The use of medical cannabis-based medicines has not changed. The agency prohibited the importation of cannabis in the form of a flower or any other part of the plant, but cannabis-based medicines can be released in other available formats, such as oil, extract and edible, on an exceptional basis.

In a note, Anvisa states that only the cannabis in natura, part or flowers are not allowed. “Other presentations can still be imported for personal use.”

The market for medical cannabis-based products has taken a leap since 2015, when the import regulation process began. In 2022, 80,258 authorizations were granted for the import of products with the substance. In the previous year, there were 40,165.

IS THE MEDICINAL CANNABIS FLOWER CHEAP?

Experts point out that industrialized marijuana flowers have a high CBD content, but a low amount of THC, the active ingredient in the herb that gives the “high” sought after by recreational users.

Report by Sheetpublished in July of this year, showed that a parallel market for “legalized marijuana” for recreational use was developing in the country.

The practice takes place through a loophole in Anvisa’s rule, which had been releasing the importation of marijuana flowers for medicinal purposes. RDC 660 spoke of permission to import industrialized cannabis-based products without specifying which ones.

HOW IS CANNABIS FLOWER USED?

the flower of cannabis medicinal can be either smoked or vaped. Patients who use the flower of the cannabis medicinal report that the vaporized format takes effect faster than the oil, which takes about 40 minutes to take effect, but lasting up to six hours.

Therefore, it is common for doctors to prescribe combined use. For example, when patients had a chronic pain crisis, they used marijuana flower to make the discomfort go away faster and the oil to prolong the effect of the medicine.

WHEN DOES ANVISA’S NEW DECISION BECOME EVALUATE?

The agency says that as of this Thursday (20th) registration authorization for importing the plant will no longer be granted. Imports that are already in progress will have 60 days for completion, the same goes for authorizations that have already been issued and will be valid until September 20th of this year.