On November 17, the Humanitas360 Institute held an in-depth discussion on the medicinal use of Cannabis at the CIVI-CO auditorium in São Paulo, marking the 7th edition of the Difficult Conversations series. “Medical cannabis: myth or reality?” was the guiding question of the event, which was moderated by anthropologist Juliano Spyer and explored both the potential and limitations of the plant’s therapeutic applications.
Psychiatrist, professor at UFPB, and vice president of the Brazilian Medical Association of Endocannabinology, Wilson Lessa, argued that it is necessary to break the silence among physicians on this topic and expand education about the endocannabinoid system and its interaction with plant substances such as CBD and THC, starting from undergraduate medical training.
Coordinator of the Medical Cannabis Working Group at the São Paulo Regional Pharmacy Council, pharmacist and professor at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Margarete Akemi Kishi, recommended avoiding both “witch hunts” and blind faith that medicinal plants can be used “for everything and in any way.”
Finally, psychotherapist and PhD in sciences Fátima Padin, who coordinates the chemical dependency module in a specialization course at Unifesp, stressed the need to conduct more robust, diverse, and long-term scientific studies to ensure best practices in the medical field and responsible public policies.
Watch the full debate on the H360 YouTube channel:
