Brazil: The city of São Paulo suspends the supply of cannabidiol to patients. | Cannabis Law Report

Saude report

The São Paulo City Hall stated this Friday (16) that it cannot guarantee the continuity of treatment for patients undergoing treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) after Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) seized a shipment of oils supplied by a company in Paraguay.

The SMS (Municipal Health Secretariat) says it is in talks with the agency and has instructed the referenced pharmacies to stop dispensing the herbal medicines, at the request of the agency, until a final decision.

“The SMS reiterates that it cannot guarantee the continuity of treatment for these patients without authorization from Anvisa,” the department states in a note. When questioned about the number of patients affected, the secretariat did not respond. The administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) also did not say whether it will seek new suppliers to avoid shortages.

Contacted by Folha de S.Paulo on Monday (12) and this Friday, the city hall also did not inform the destination of the shipment or the quantity of medicines seized.

The decision to suspend treatment was published last Tuesday (13) in the Official Gazette of the Municipality. In the order, the City of São Paulo determines the interruption of the dispensing of products linked to the company Velox Transportes Produtos e Serviços Ltda. until there is a definitive decision from Anvisa.

The agency banned in November a shipment of cannabidiol-based medicines imported from Paraguay by the City of São Paulo on the grounds that the supplying company is not registered in Brazil and that the products cannot be imported for stockpiling and distribution in the country.

The municipal administration denies irregularities and says that it “strictly follows federal and state legislation”.

CBD-based medicines can be prescribed in São Paulo for the treatment of various pathologies, such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, as well as tuberous sclerosis, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

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