Thiago Campos, the first Black director of Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), spoke in an interview on the Cannabis Hoje Pod podcast about the agency’s recent regulations allowing small associations and communities to cultivate cannabis with a THC content of 0.3% or less. He emphasized that these limits, set on February 3, will not impede the development of cannabis-derived medications as there are other avenues for scaling up THC levels in approved products. Previously, cannabis cultivation was prohibited and only allowed through specific judicial orders.

Campos acknowledged criticism from advocates of medicinal cannabis regarding the low THC threshold, but defended it as a necessary compromise for making any progress in this area. He explained that the decision reflects a careful balance of interests and is a part of broader regulatory efforts to ensure safe and responsible cannabis use. "It's better to take a secure step forward than risk halting progress altogether," Campos asserted, hinting at the ongoing evolution of cannabis policy in Brazil.

The interview underscores a significant moment in Brazil’s cannabis regulatory landscape, as it marks a shift from outright prohibition to a framework that could facilitate legal access to medical cannabis. This development not only represents an advancement in public health policy but also reflects changing societal attitudes towards cannabis, potentially paving the way for further reforms in the future concerning medical and recreational use of marijuana.