Brazil to Test Medicinal Marijuana to Help Doctors’ Mental Health in Fighting Covid-19

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In August, Brazil will conduct a study to assess the impact of cannabis on the mental health of health care professionals involved in treating patients infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19). The study was approved last Monday, June 29th, by the Ethics Committee on Research with Humans (CEPSH) of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).

Entitled “Impact of integral cannabis oil on mental health of front-line professionals in the fight against Covid-19,” the project will recruit 300 volunteers from across the country through a selection process. The organizers will factor in the patient’s health history, sociodemographic profile, and degree of involvement in the fight against the pandemic, among other criteria. Pregnant and lactating women, and individuals with pre-existing psychiatric conditions will not be accepted.

The herb-based drugs will be produced by the ‘Associação Brasileira de Apoio a Cannabis Esperança’ (Brazilian Association of Support to Cannabis -ABRACE), an organization of patients based in João Pessoa (Paraíba state), which will also register and select volunteers through its website. Recruitment will be conducted during the month of July and testing will begin in August.

During the clinical study, the patients will be administered doses of integral cannabis oil, with a concentration of 100mg/ml of cannabidiol (CBD) and low THC rates, the plant’s psychoactive substance.