Opinion – Cannabis Inc.: Alesp approves supply of CBD by SUS in São Paulo

Last Wednesday (21), Alesp (Legislative Assembly of São Paulo) approved PL 1,180, of 2019, which establishes the state policy for the free supply of CBD (cannabidiol, a product derived from cannabis, without the psychoactive effect). The document also states that the patient will still be entitled to THC (tetrahydrocannabidiol, another cannabinoid), but on an exceptional basis. In some cases, as in the control of cancer pain, the substance is indispensable in the composition of the oil, formulated from the flower of the plant, which has a therapeutic effect on many diseases.

Currently, it is estimated that around 300,000 patients make use of the medicinal oil of the cannabis🇧🇷 “In addition to the significant improvement in the quality of life of patients, this project will reduce the lawsuits filed against the State”, says deputy Sérgio Victor (Novo-SP), coordinator of the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Medical Cannabis. As a bottle of the medicine can cost up to R$ 2,500, patients go to court to have the State pay for the treatment or for the right to cultivate the plant to manufacture the oil by hand.

Deputy Caio França (PSB-SP), one of the authors of PL 1,180, believes that “the project can eliminate legal demands, since these families will have access to the CBD without needing a lawyer.” The measure will still mean savings to public coffers. “The state government will be able to make the purchase with drapery, that is, with better price and quality”, analyzes França.

According to Kaya Mind’s survey, the judicialization of CBD requests from 13 states cost SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) BRL 50 million, from 2015 to 2021. São Paulo alone was responsible for BRL 42 million.