Court Authorizes Family to Grow Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A couple was allowed to grow cannabis sativa (marijuana) to treat their child, who suffers from cerebral palsy and West’s Syndrome. The decision was handed down by the 3rd Criminal Court of Uberlândia, in Minas Gerais State. The case is being processed under judicial seal.

The child suffered 50 epileptic seizures a day, which prevented him from eating. The medical report by the child’s neurologist points out that “the patient shows a condition of cerebral palsy and West’s syndrome, of great therapeutic challenge and difficult to control”.

According to the Minas Gerais court, another report shows that the child “did not respond to conventional therapies, so he started the treatment with cannabis oil“.

After the introduction of the medication, the child showed significant improvement in the seizures, but the family does not have the financial means to pay for the high-cost therapy.

Decision

The judge maintained that “[what] is sought, through this action, [is] the right to lead a dignified life through modern citizenship”. “Both the dignity of the human person and citizenship are two fundamental principles of our democratic rule of law”. The magistrate emphasized that “the patient must have the right to enjoy the fundamental right to live with dignity”.

ANVISA

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has recently approved two preliminary proposals that may release the cultivation of Cannabis sativa in Brazil for medicinal and scientific purposes, in addition to the production of national drugs based on by-products of the substance.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo