Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the registration of the first Cannabis-based product in the country.
Cannabidiol oil may be sold in pharmacies only with a type B special prescription, whose numbering is provided by local health surveillance. Blue in color, this type of medicine is usually prescribed for psychotropics and must be renewed every 60 days.
This is the first registration granted by the agency since the agency approved a regulation that opens space for the sale of Cannabis-based products in these locations, based on some criteria. The agency created a new category of plant-based products, different from the one used for medicines.
The product is a phytopharmaceutical based on cannabidiol. This component of Cannabis has a therapeutic effect on some conditions.
The concentration of THC, a substance also under study and known for "giving cheap", is less than 0.2%.
The agency's authorization allows for prescriptions in cases in which there are no other treatment alternatives with satisfactory results. The list of diseases was not provided.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon