Police operations and body bags are nothing new to Rio, where state police killed a record 1,810 people last year, nearly five a day. But with the city now in partial shutdown because of Covid-19, and citizens under orders to stay indoors, favela residents are voicing outrage that the police’s terrifying incursions into their communities have not been halted. Friday’s operation – which left 13 people dead – was the latest in a series of deadly police assaults which have continued despite the quarantine imposed by Rio’s hardline governor, Wilson Witzel, in mid-March. “People should be getting help, not getting shot at,” complained congresswoman Renata Souza, who said it was inhumane for such operations to continue during the pandemic.

À frente da discussão sobre a regulamentação do cultivo de cannabis para fins medicinais, o diretor-presidente da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), William Dib, tem enfrentado resistências dentro do governo. Ele evita entrar em atrito direto com o principal opositor, o ministro da Cidadania, Osmar Terra, mas sustenta que, até o fim do ano, as regras serão estabelecidas: "Estamos devendo essa resposta à sociedade". "Meu papel é cumprir a legislação que é da competência (da Anvisa) e oferecer serviço de qualidade para a população. Acredito que a coerência e o bom senso vão predominar. Queremos discutir ciência, não o efeito nocivo de droga ou o que ela faz no corpo. Isso não é função da Anvisa. Não vou discutir se deve ser liberada ou não a droga".

Psiquiatra especializada no tratamento de dependentes de álcool e drogas, Nicola Worcman observa com olhar crítico a mudança de foco da Política Nacional de Drogas — da chamada redução de danos para o modelo exclusivo da abstinência , como consta do decreto que definiu o novo rumo, assinado no início deste mês. Ela procura sintetizar o que são a redução de danos e a abstinência. E propõe que um modelo não seja contraposto ao outro, mas que haja uma dialética entre ambos, para assim entender os diversos níveis de complexidade no tratamento de dependentes químicos. (Leia também: Ministro ataca Fiocruz e diz que 'não confia' em estudo sobre drogas, engavetado pelo governo)

Shooting from helicopters, armored personnel carriers or at close range, police officers in Rio de Janeiro have gunned down 558 people during the first four months of the year — the highest number in this period since the state began keeping records more than two decades ago. This recent spike comes after years in which the federal and local authorities put in place policies that significantly diminished police killings. But as the country dove into a deep economic and political crisis in 2014, resources for security programs dried up. Criminal gangs reclaimed lost territory in Rio, and across Brazil violence exploded: More than 51,500 people were killed last year. (See also: Jair Bolsonaro will not defeat crime in Brazil by tolerating militias)

During campaigning last year, Rio’s new, far-right governor, Wilson Witzel, promised a “slaughter” of gun-toting drug gangsters using helicopters and snipers – leading to comparisons with the Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war. Now fears are growing that the policy is being implemented in Rio, fed by a record high of 434 deaths in confrontations with police in the first three months of this year. Renata Souza, the chair of the human rights commission at Rio’s legislative assembly, wrote to the UN rapporteur on extrajudicial killings that Witzel was “legitimising” police violence in favelas.

Con disparos desde helicópteros, vehículos blindados con soldados o a quemarropa, los oficiales de la policía de Río de Janeiro abatieron a 558 personas durante los primeros cuatro meses del año, la cantidad más grande desde que las autoridades comenzaron a llevar un registro hace más de dos décadas. Esta cifra reciente sucede después de años en los que las autoridades federales y locales instauraron políticas que disminuyeron los asesinatos a manos de la policía. Sin embargo, debido a que el país cayó en una profunda crisis económica y política en 2014, se agotaron los recursos para los programas de seguridad. Las bandas de delincuentes reclamaron los territorios que perdieron en Río, y estalló la violencia en todo Brasil: el año pasado fueron asesinadas más de 51.500 personas.

A cantora Anittadefendeu a legalização da maconha durante uma transmissão ao vivo com o rapper Filipe Rett. Para apoiar essa pauta política, ela também pediu ajuda a Lula, o pré-candidato do PT à Presidência em quem ela já anunciou que vai votar recentemente. "Acho que proibir as drogas não faz com que as pessoas parem de usar. Em vez de estarem colaborando com essa guerra na favela que só mata o pobre, gente que não tem nada a ver com isso e só deixa rico esse povo que não paga imposto e que lava dinheiro, tinha que virar empresa, gerar emprego", disse a cantora. "Eu sou a favor de virar tudo empresa legalizada", concluiu ela.

A pesar de que la legalización del cannabis medicinal está avanzada en la región, todavía hay muchas trabas que impiden su producción y comercialización. Así lo reveló el estudio realizado por Alfredo Pascual y publicado por el Marijuana Business Daily International, titulado ‘Cannabis en América Latina: regulaciones y oportunidades’. El estudio revisa el estado del marco legal del cannabis en Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, México, Paraguay, Perú y Uruguay. Por ahora Argentina, Chile, Colombia, México, Paraguay y Uruguay ya tienen regulada la ley para el cannabis medicinal, mientras que Perú tiene implementada una ley, pero no hay acceso a ningún producto. (Véase también: Hay 386 licencias para producción y transformación de cannabis en Colombia)

The cannabis sector is heating up for a big start in Brazil. Deputy Paulo Teixeira (PT-SP) handed over the proposed law 399/2015, which legalizes the cultivation of cannabis in Brazil for medical and industrial use, to the president of the Chamber of Deputies. The proposal foresees an increase in plant-based medicine because it reduces the cost of imported input, lowering the price of cannabis drugs. "In pharmacies, there are two Cannabis-based medicines registered by Anvisa [Health Surveillance Agency], Sativex, produced by the English company GW Pharma, and Cannabidiol, by Brazilian Prati-Donaduzzi," says Teixeira. On average, each costs R $ 2,500. Prati's cannabidiol comes from Canada. (See also: Brazilian plan for legal cultivation of industrial hemp, MMJ moving ahead as nation battles pandemic)

Las autoridades sanitarias de Brasil aprobaron la normativa para el registro y la venta de medicamentos a base de marihuana en las farmacias del país. La decisión de la Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (Anvisa), vinculada al Ministerio de Salud, entrará en vigor en 90 días a partir de su publicación en el Diario Oficial y se someterá a una revisión pasados tres años. El objetivo de la medida es "encontrar una forma de garantizar el acceso, por la vía de la asistencia farmacéutica" y "asegurar un mínimo de garantía para los usuarios de los productos", señaló Anvisa en un comunicado. Anvisa agregó que las compañías deberán continuar investigando para probar la eficacia y seguridad de sus fórmulas.

Brazil’s national health agency (ANVISA) approved new rules for the registration of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes in the country, authorizing their sale in pharmacies. By three votes to one, the agency rejected a proposal that would endorse cultivation for research and production of medicines - which in practice will force companies to import raw materials. Nonetheless, HempMeds, the first company to bring drugs to Brazil, saw the move as an important step, especially in reducing the cost to patients. (See also: New guidelines approved for medical cannabis in Brazil | Brazil’s new medical cannabis rules reject domestic cultivation, potentially setting up large import market)

Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the registration of the first cannabis-based product in the country. Cannabidiol oil may be sold in pharmacies only with a special prescription provided by local health surveillance. This is the first registration granted by the agency since the agency approved a regulation that opens space for the sale of cannabis-based products in these locations, based on some criteria. The agency created a new category of plant-based products, different from the one used for medicines. The product is a phytopharmaceutical based on cannabidiol. This component of cannabis has a therapeutic effect on some conditions. (See also: Brazil approves first medical cannabis product under 2019 regulations)

After Brazil’s health authority shelved a proposal on domestic cannabis cultivation, a court decided in the opposite direction, allowing – for the first time in Brazil – a company to grow hemp commercially. The court’s decision could spur other cannabis companies to appeal to the judicial system for permission to cultivate domestically. The ruling of the Federal Court of the Federal District authorized Schoenmaker Humanko, part of the Terra Viva group – a large Brazilian floricultural company – to import hempseeds of varieties with less than 0.3% THC to grow in Brazil. In his decision, the judge allowed the company to “sell the seeds, leaves and fibers exclusively for industrial purposes, including as inputs,” under supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and ANVISA, the Brazilian National Sanitary Surveillance Agency.

The criminalisation of people who use drugs compounds drug-related challenges and worsens health and welfare outcomes. Across the world, there is a growing number of jurisdictions where the possession of scheduled drugs for personal use has been decriminalised. In some countries and federal states, this has been extended to the cultivation of cannabis for personal use or the sharing of substances where there is no financial gain (also known as ‘social sharing’). In some legal systems criminal penalties are replaced by civil sanctions, while in other systems no penalties are applied – please see our glossary for more detailed definitions. Some form of decriminalisation has been adopted in 30 countries – with significant differences and levels of effectiveness. This interactive map provides an overview of these models, offering insights into decriminalisation laws, their implementation and impact.

Drug Decriminalisation Across the World

El cannabis medicinal se está abriendo paso en Brasil por la vía judicial, gracias a sentencias que han amparado la creación de grandes plantaciones que suministran aceites derivados de la marihuana a miles de pacientes. Una de las mayores plantaciones del país se levanta en Paty do Alferes, a unas dos horas de Río de Janeiro, una hacienda que suministra aceites derivados del 'cannabis sativa' a más de 3.000 pacientes de enfermedades como epilepsia, párkinson, alzheimer y autismo. Esta hacienda, que produce unos 2.000 frascos de los aceites por mes, es fruto de un arduo y complejo camino emprendido por la Asociación de Apoyo a la Investigación y a Pacientes de Cannabis Medicinal (Apepi), ONG que el pasado febrero recibió un permiso judicial para plantar cannabis.

Con las elecciones generales aproximándose en Brasil la marihuana vuelve a estar en la agenda de temas a debatir. CNN Brasil le preguntó a las y los siete principales candidatos presidenciales su opinión sobre la legalización de la marihuana. Ninguno de los candidatos se mostró a favor de la regulación del cannabis de uso adulto o recreativo y, en términos generales, la mayoría ofreció respuestas muy vagas. Algunos pocos, sin embargo, se mostraron tolerantes con el cannabis medicinal, e incluso a favor de despenalizar el consumo. El tema está en debate. Hace unos días, Ricardo Mandarino, secretario de Seguridad Pública del estado de Bahía, habló a favor de la legalización del cannabis y apuntó en contra de los candidatos presidenciales y legisladores que “tienen miedo a discutir el tema”.

Um estudo sobre drogas feito pela Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) está no centro de um impasse entre o governo, que o engavetou, e a comunidade científica. Na opinião de especialistas, a pesquisa teria sido escanteada pelo governo por um motivo: ela não confirma que o Brasil vive uma "epidemia de drogas" conforme afirma o ministro da cidadania, Osmar Terra. Terra chegou a dizer ainda que não confiava nas pesquisas conduzidas pela Fundação. A reportagem teve acesso à íntegra do documento que mostra que enquanto o governo endurece as políticas para drogas ilícitas, deixa de olhar para uma substância cujos índices despontam no país: os opiáceos. (Leia também: Ideologia contamina tema das drogas)

At first glance, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s cabinet looks very different from that of predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. It comprises many scientists and other experts in their respective fields, where the previous administration favored military and neoliberal ideologues. Minister of Human Rights Silvio de Almeida is among those who say they support a public health approach to drug use rather than a carceral one. But time and again, we see lip service performed by officials we call “progressive,” while we wait for their actions to match their words.