The use of Cannabis sativa for therapeutic purposes in Brazil: an integrative review

Abstract

The debate about the use of Cannabis sativa for therapeutic purposes has mobilized the scientific community to raise new points about the impacts related to its use. This work aimed to investigate scientific productions have been discussing the introduction of Cannabis sativa for therapeutic purposes in Brazil. The methodology comprised an integrative review study of published articles on the use of Cannabis sativa and its derivatives. The search for the studies was performed in the Virtual Health Library portal, with filter for the main databases, such as SciELO, LILACS and MEDLINE. The results identified two strands of studies on the use of the plant. First, a growing social discussion, motivated by the relationship between therapeutic potential and the historical, social, cultural and criminal conceptions associated with its use. And a second anchored in the practical interventions of cannabinoid compunds as a therapeutic alternative. However, even though research on the therapeutic potential of Cannabis is promising, further studies are needed to fill the still prevalent gaps about the beneficial and adverse effects associated with your use and its derivatives.