Abstract
The study aimed to analyze the profile of requests for medicinal cannabis-based products within the Technical Notes (TNs) of the e-NatJus platform. Conducted as a descriptive documentary research, it utilized secondary data from the platform, covering TNs published from 2018 to August 31, 2023. Among the 672 identified TNs, a substantial number, 83 % (n=558), presented unfavorable opinions. The applicants, predominantly male (53.12 %), spanned various age groups from newborns to the elderly. Geographically, requests were distributed across 23 states in Brazil, with Rio Grande do Sul being the most representative (19.6 %). Diagnostic confirmation relied on medical reports, and prevalent diagnoses included "unspecified speech or language development disorder" (CID F80.9) and "epilepsy" (CID G40), accounting for 19.34 % and 18.6 % of TNs, respectively. The findings offer a comprehensive view of the judicialization of health concerning medicinal cannabis in Brazil. In light of divergent results for similar therapeutic goals, the study emphasizes the necessity for clinical guidelines and robust scientific research to ascertain the effectiveness and safety of cannabis-based medications. Clear guidelines are crucial to ensure the effective and safe use of medicinal cannabis in the judicial context.
Keywords:
Health judicialization; Medicinal Cannabis; Brazil; Pharmacovigilance; Medical diagnostics