Five Distinct Types of Medical Cannabis Patients Identified in Brazil | Research

The takeaway

A survey of 1,335 Brazilian medical cannabis patients identified five patient types, with mental health (36%) and pain relief (24.3%) being the largest groups, and sociodemographic factors significantly shaping use patterns.

Health policymakers in emerging medical cannabis markets, patient advocates, and researchers studying international cannabis access patterns.

What the researchers found

Latent class analysis identified five patient typologies: Mental Health Patient (36%), Pain Relief Patient (24.3%), Neurological Patient (17.8%), Prior-Use Multi-Symptom Patient (11.6%), and Recently Initiated Multi-Symptom Patient (10.3%). Gender, religion, and household income were significantly associated with class membership.

Why it matters

Brazil's medical cannabis regulations are still evolving, with significant bureaucratic and financial barriers to access. Understanding that patients cluster into distinct groups with different needs can help policymakers design more targeted and equitable access pathways.

The numbers in context

N=1,335. Five classes: Mental Health (36%), Pain Relief (24.3%), Neurological (17.8%), Prior-Use Multi-Symptom (11.6%), Recently Initiated Multi-Symptom (10.3%). Access routes included associations, importation, pharmacy, and court-authorized cultivation. Significant associations with gender, religion, and income.

How the study worked

Anonymous online survey of 1,335 individuals using medically prescribed cannabis in Brazil (March-April 2023). Latent Class Analysis used indicators including symptom categories, access pathways, administration routes, treatment costs, and duration of use. Multinomial logistic regression examined demographic associations.

What this study cannot tell us

Online convenience sample recruited through social media and cannabis groups may overrepresent digitally connected, younger patients. Self-reported data without medical verification. Cross-sectional design captures a single point in time. Regulatory context is specific to Brazil.

How to read the evidence

Large sample with sophisticated statistical approach (LCA), but convenience sampling and self-reported data limit representativeness.

When this study was published

Published 2025, survey conducted March-April 2023.

The bigger picture

The dominance of mental health as the largest patient class (36%) mirrors trends in other countries but contrasts with many regulatory frameworks that prioritize chronic pain or epilepsy. This mismatch between patient needs and regulatory focus may contribute to access barriers.

Questions still open

Whether the mental health patient class is adequately served by Brazil's current regulatory framework
How these patient typologies compare to those in countries with more established medical cannabis programs

Common questions

How do people access medical cannabis in Brazil?

Brazilian patients can access medical cannabis through patient associations, importing products, pharmacies, or court-authorized home cultivation. Each route has different costs and bureaucratic requirements, creating significant access inequality.

Why were mental health patients the largest group?

Anxiety and depression are among the most common reasons people seek medical cannabis globally. In Brazil, limited access to mental health care may push some patients toward cannabis as an alternative treatment option.

Read the original research

Patterns of cannabis use for medical reasons in Brazil: An exploratory latent class analysis study.

The International journal on drug policy, 143, 104906

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Scattone, Heloísa; Gauer, Luís Eduardo; Pezzini, Julia Valle; Tófoli, Luís Fernando. (2025). Patterns of cannabis use for medical reasons in Brazil: An exploratory latent class analysis study.. The International journal on drug policy, 143, 104906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104906