Política da esperança: panorama antropológico sobre regulamentação e associativismo pela terapêutica canábica no Brasil

Abstract

This research has a qualitative nature, an ethnographic theoretical-methodological approach and fulfills its exploratory character, with the objective of apprehending the struggle and movement that has taken place in Brazil, around the regulation of access to products made from cannabis, for therapeutic purposes. This study focuses on a panoramic perspective, about what has been done in the political field and experiences, in relation to the subjects who are involved in this cause. Since mid-2013-2014, the fight for marijuana regulation has been highlighted in the country, due to the anguish and need of mothers and families who have discovered the alternative of cannabis therapy to treat various pathologies of their loved ones, however the complexity and challenges that result of national drug policy has hampered recognition and Other advances for cannabis, as a medicinal, therapeutic plant. I direct my observation from the construction of a biosocial network, initially formed by mothers and families, and then composed of activists, doctors, lawyers and other subjects active in the cause. This netwthe distinct work carried out by patient associations, whose common priority and objective is the provision of information, reception and guidance to subjects who seek this therapeutic route alternative. From the ethnographic follow-up of two mothers and six associations, 2 in person in the state of Paraíba, and the rest occurred remotely due to the pandemic context, I conducted semi-structured interviews and applied a questionnaire to the association’s participants, collecting information about the history of its foundation and performance of social work. In light of the theoretical contribution, these subjects have carried out a policy of hope, where all actors are interconnected for the same objective: to have democratic access to health care and quality of life. The autonomy of their choices is marked both by moral and social deconstructions, and also reflected in the search to learn and deepen themes that are admittedly taboo to our public policies, such as the case of drugs. The division between the criminal and health spheres has complex challenges for the regulatory advances of cannabis, suggesting the stage for several conflicts and developments, which this study is dedicated to bring and add to this reflection.