Medicinal cannabis: imports increase 60% and break historic record

The import of Medicinal Cannabis in Brazil grew by 60% in March 2026 and broke a historic record. The number is the highest since the beginning of the historical series, in 2015, according to the Umbrella Cannect Cuida survey.

According to the data, the volume of authorizations granted by Anvisa totals more than 61 thousand in the first quarter of 2026. In March alone, there were 23,199 imports of medicinal cannabis-based products. The number represents a growth of 60.1% compared to March 2025, when 14,485 permits were registered.

CNN Brasil had first-hand access to the data. The Medicinal Cannabis market in Brazil is expected to grow and reach R$1 billion in 2026, according to an estimate from consultancy Kaya.

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Medical cannabis: the benefits and new rules | LIVE CNN

"Issues such as anxiety, chronic pain and insomnia are increasingly present in people's lives, and cannabis has been considered a therapeutic alternative for these cases. As more doctors become aware of the therapy and lose their fear of prescribing it, the number of patients grows and generates a cascade effect", explained Allan Paiotti, CEO of Cannect, in an interview with CNN Brasil.

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The study reveals that Brazilians' main motivations for seeking therapy are:

- Anxiety: 38.5%
- Chronic Pain: 25.4%
- Insomnia: 13.5%

According to the CEO, cultivation regulations, approved by Anvisa, also contributed to this growth. "When Anvisa regulates cultivation, when Judiciary decisions advance in this direction or when states start to offer this treatment on the public network, this helps to reduce prejudice and increases people's trust."

Individual imports guide the use of cannabidiol-based products. Between 2015 and 2025, more than 660,000 individual import authorizations were registered. In total, 49 products from 24 companies are approved by Anvisa and available for sale in pharmacies.

What we have noticed is a significant increase in the number of doctors and patients who are approaching medical cannabis therapy. We are reaching a point where word of mouth and positive repercussions in the media are accelerating the adoption of treatment.

Allan Paiotti, CEO of Cannect

However, there are still cultural challenges that limit the growth of this market, which according to the CEO, must be overcome by expanding knowledge. "The challenge is to transform this scientific knowledge into an accessible language for healthcare professionals and patients. As new evidence emerges and is released, understanding of the benefits and limitations of medical cannabis is growing."

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Allan Paiotti also reinforced that the next steps towards advancing cannabis treatment include personalizing treatment, according to the particularities of each individual. "Two people can have the same problem, such as low back pain, but respond differently to treatment. The tendency is to use this information to create more appropriate therapeutic combinations for each patient, increasing the effectiveness and safety of treatments."

*Under the supervision of Thiago Félix

Source: CNN