Three of Every Four Brazilians Support Medicinal Use of Marijuana

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Authorization for the industry to produce medicines based on the marijuana plant is supported by 75 percent of the Brazilian population, according to a survey by DataSenado, obtained exclusively by the newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo. Another 20 percent of those interviewed said they were against it and five percent did not know or preferred not to respond. DataSenado conducts public opinion surveys on issues under discussion at the Congress.

The Bolsonaro administration is against working with the plant in the country, even for research purposes or for the production of medicines, and defends a more conservative approach: to facilitate the import of medicines, in addition to allowing a local industry that uses synthetic products.

Estado showed that the synthetic product, supported by members of the Bolsonaro government, does not have an authorization for research and marketing in Brazil. For this to happen, it will depend on the endorsement of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

The Senate survey shows that 79 percent of respondents advocate that medicines based on the plant be provided free of charge in the Unified Health System (SUS), against 16 percent unfavorable and five percent who did not know or did not want to respond. The survey was conducted by telephone with 2,400 people from all States, from July 14th to July 27th at the request of the office of Senator Mara Gabrilli.

Also according to DataSenado, 87 percent of Brazilians know that substances extracted from marijuana can be used to treat diseases, but only nine percent know someone who has used products of this type by medical recommendation.

The survey revealed that 64 percent of respondents do not advocate that a person, even with a medical prescription, plant marijuana at home, compared to 31 percent who support the measure. In cases where they think it is possible to plant marijuana at home, for medical treatment, 90 percent say that authorities should do occasional inspections.

Source: Estadão