Cannabis in Paraguay, an issue that continues to generate controversy

Medical marijuana production is currently limited in Paraguay to 12 local investors who obtained licenses in 2020. Three of those companies are already supplying CBD oil and capsules to pharmacies and the Paraguayan Ministry of Health.

In 2017 Paraguay approved the creation of the National Program for the study and scientific research of cannabis. There are several Latin American countries where the use of this plant has already been approved, recently Uruguay joined this list.

Read also: Check out our coverage on Paraguay

In August 2020, Congress had approved the self-cultivation of medicinal cannabis without limit of plants throughout the Paraguayan territory. The regulations mention that those who cultivate for medicinal purposes can produce oils and also transport them. However, President Mario Abdo vetoed the law that the Paraguayan parliament had approved.

Last 2021 the country marked a milestone by exporting oils, proteins and derivatives of psychoactive cannabis (industrial hemp) to the United States and for the first time to Australia and Canada.

On Thursday morning, Senator Fernando Silva Facetti presented a bill for the industrial regulation of cannabis, proposing the release of up to 1% THC. The legislative proposal contemplates the authorization of cultivation and marketing for export purposes under “rigorous security conditions” and could represent an enormous economic opportunity for the country.

Another point mentioned within this project is that it raises the authorization for personal use in addition to access to purchase under medical prescription, it also mentions the permission to cultivate up to six plants and other parameters for cultivation, production and marketing.

Law No. 6007 creates the national program for the study and medical and scientific research of the medicinal use of the cannabis plant and its derivatives. Decree No. 9303/18 regulates this law that creates the national program for the study and medical and scientific research for the medicinal use of the plant and its derivatives. For its part, Resolution S.G establishes conditions, requirements and procedures for obtaining a license and controlled industrialization of products derived from the plant to be used for study, medical and scientific research and medicinal use.

ORGANIZATIONS

Mamá Cultiva is an organization that is dedicated to promoting, coordinating, and carrying out activities and projects seeking for people to learn more about the properties of cannabis and its derivatives. This group promotes self-cultivation and also produces phytopharmaceuticals based on the plant with quite accessible costs or free in some cases to incorporate them into the Paraguayan health system.

In the organization there are patients with epilepsy, cancer, autism, tuberous sclerosis, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, panic, insomnia, chronic migraine, Tourette’s syndrome and chronic pain in general. Until now, the state program does not cover many of these patients, so self-cultivation is the most effective way.

Cynthia Fariña, a member of Mamá Cultiva, mentioned that the organization fights for access to medicinal cannabis. “We are a family that came to this plant after all traditional therapies and drugs did not work, we want this alternative to be viable for all families without being criminalized.”

“We take care of accompanying and advising families on cannabis use and therapy,” she mentioned.

She finally highlighted that cannabis has many properties and benefits, that it is something scientifically proven, it is used for a large number of pathologies and it is something that we want to reach all those who need it as a medicine.