São Paulo’s Governor sanctions law that allows distribution of medical cannabis by the SUS

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), sanctioned on Tuesday, 31, alaw that allows the distribution of medical cannabis through the Single Health System (SUS) in São Paulo.

Last year, the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp) approved the project, authored by state representative Caio França (PSB).

The project also allows the distribution of products based on THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

In this case, distribution is only allowed on exceptional occasions.

The new law aims to democratize access, especially for needy families, without the need to go to court, as is currently the case.

It will be the responsibility of the Health Secretariat. It will be up to the body to define the guidelines.

For this, a working committee will be created, which will count on the participation of technicians and representatives from non-profit associations that support research and patients and their families.

After Alesp’s approval, a petition with more than 40,000 signatures and a letter from the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-SP) demanded the governor’s approval of the project.

During a ceremony at the Bandeirantes Palace, Tarcísio de Freitas said that his nephew, who suffers from Dravet syndrome, started being treated with cannibidiol, and the results were positive.

Research indicates that patients with rare syndromes, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, autistic and other diseases can undergo treatment with these types of drugs.

“You see a child who is convulsing instead of playing. Each seizure subtracts a little bit of life. It’s tough to see a child who convulses all the time. The parents have to be very resilient. We don’t know why these parents go through this, but God knows,” said the governor.

He stressed that São Paulo would have a public policy for this medicine.

“We don’t want the same thing [that happened] in other states, where the law was sanctioned but is not alive. We are convinced that we are doing the right thing. We want the state of São Paulo to be the pioneer in applying public policy,” he said.

The event was also attended by mothers of children with rare syndromes who presented improvements in their health after starting treatment with cannabidiol.

With information from Jovem Pan