A technical report is being prepared to serve as a reference in discussions surrounding a bill on cannabis legalization.
Official Position Under Development
The federal government is drafting an official technical statement on the cultivation and industrial use of hemp in Brazil. The topic is currently under review in the Federal Senate, where a bill aims to regulate this activity. Last week, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) approved the importation of seeds and cultivation of the plant for medicinal purposes in the country.
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture are working on the document, which will consolidate perspectives from various departments and Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation). Reports from different areas of the Ministry favor hemp cultivation, a non-psychoactive cannabis species, albeit with some reservations.
The Ministry views hemp cultivation as an opportunity for Brazilian farmers. Beyond its medicinal applications, the plant has diverse uses:
- Fibers: Used in textiles, construction, and biofuels.
Focus on Bill 5511/2023
The forthcoming document is expected to support discussions on Bill 5511/2023, introduced by Senator Mara Gabrilli (PSD-SP). Although proposed last year, the bill remains under review in the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, awaiting a rapporteur.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Regulatory Authority: The federal agricultural authority would oversee licensing for industrial hemp and cannabis cultivation for medicinal and veterinary products.
- Economic Viability: Production would follow parameters ensuring technical and economic sustainability, tailored to the producer’s scale and purpose (personal or commercial).
- Best Practices: Encourages sustainable agricultural practices and production technologies.
Additionally, hemp cultivation would comply with existing agricultural and agro-industrial laws, alongside specific regulations set by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Industry and Academic Perspectives
The bill has been discussed in meetings with Minister Carlos Fávaro, who emphasized the need for a modernized Ministry that addresses both market opportunities and producers’ needs. The industrial sector reports that one hectare of hemp can yield:
- 10 tons of internal fibers,
- 4 tons of long fibers,
- 1.6 tons of seeds,
- 800 kilograms of medicinal flowers.
“We need a contemporary Ministry that fosters development, income, and access to products for Brazilians,” Fávaro said in August.
Academic Community Involvement
Alessandra Alves, Director of Research at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), stressed the importance of academic engagement with cannabis, given its wide-ranging potential.
“As a plant, agriculture must get involved. Researchers must anticipate the demand so that when regulation arrives, we already have solutions for the sector,” she remarked during the ExpoCannabis event in São Paulo last weekend.
