Brazilian presidential candidates duck and duck over recreational cannabis reform

Brazil makes strides in reforming medicinal cannabis. Earlier this month, the National Health Surveillance Agency approved two new medical devices. This brings the number of approved medical cannabis products to 18. The majority of products available are still only CBD – ten of the total are cannabidiol extracts. All must be bought in pharmacies and drugstores.

This is the state of cannabis reform du jour in Brazil, a place where even that victory was hard won. Indeed, the current (right-wing) leader, President Jair Bolsonaro, has repeatedly frustrated attempts to make moves forward despite entire cities resisting him.

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Tragically, there are many fence sitters. On the other hand, given the current political climate, even a step forward represents progress—even when it comes to turtles.

Politics can be kicked out in the street

CNN polled all the pre-candidates on their stance on the reform. Here are some of the wider takeaways from the seven men in the ring.

Two candidates and incumbent President Bolsonaro did not respond. However, nobody needs it. Bolsonaro’s track record of legalization is very clear. He even publicly ridiculed recent legislative attempts to regulate the industry.

The other four all supported medicinal use – but none supported recreational reform.

Will Canada Remain the Only Recovery Reform Country in the American Hemisphere?

Unfortunately, the United States has a major influence on drug policy in both Central and South America. This is particularly evident in Brazil. This includes any threats to access the American banking system (which were used to slow dispensation in places like Uruguay).

With the fight currently taking place at the federal level in the US, sticking to the medical side of the equation is a safe political bet.

Brazil isn’t the only country grappling with its prohibition past and trying to find the next steps forward.

The positive news, of course, is that this is a serious issue at the national level – as is full reform.

The great gap between medicine and leisure

The scenario unfolding in Brazil is now a familiar one, particularly to global industry, but the issues of this debate have not really reached the United States outside of California. Namely, how far should a federal government go when it begins legalizing a recreational market?

In the US, the issue of states’ rights has clouded the issue in a way that has never been seen in Europe or anywhere else.

So far there are several models. The first is Holland, which has allowed an illegal market based on the gray exceptions in the law. Spain is similar. There are currently attempts in both countries to formalize both markets and figure out how the two should work together (or if there should be any overlap).

Then there is Canada, which allowed patient groups and collectives to become the starting point for a commercial medical and then recreational market. Despite odd funding and certification issues, this was the model that, in its own odd way, has spurred reform elsewhere as well. Namely being the first country outside of the Netherlands to supply Germany with products for its medical market since 2017.

Finally, there is Germany, which is now on track to enact some sort of leisure reform by the end of 2022. Here, too, the transition is likely to be bumpy, but for different reasons. It is very likely that the first movers in this market will need EU GMP certification.

This means that the first products in the leisure market need to have a much higher bar to hit the market, even if the transition to a less rigorous standard is inevitable.

Regardless, there will be plenty of fireworks and drama as the cultivation and distribution bids roll by – beginning with challenging the inherent injustice of the status quo. However, little else can be expected as the Minister of Health is the contact person for the drafting of the new Leisure Reform Act in accordance with the measures taken by the Bundestag.

Legalization is not easy everywhere.

Just ask Joe Biden.