A EDUCAÇÃO EM CANNABIS MEDICINAL COMO FERRAMENTA PARA A SUPERAÇÃO DE PRECONCEITOS E DESINFORMAÇÃO

Abstract

Prejudice and misinformation surrounding medicinal Cannabis are still major barriers to the acceptance of its therapeutic use in Brazil. The extension program "MEDICINAL CANNABIS: EDUCATION IS THE BEST MEDICINE AND CAN SAVE A LIFE! “TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE SUS” seeks to overcome these obstacles by promoting the dissemination of scientific information about the therapeutic benefits of Cannabis for health professionals. The increase in the medicinal use of Cannabis and its regulation in the country brings the need for educational actions that demystify the topic and expand the population's knowledge about its therapeutic potential. The educational actions were carried out through lectures and the creation of digital content for Instagram and Facebook. Live sessions with experts were held and brochures were produced and distributed to participants. The target audience included health professionals and the general population, with the aim of expanding knowledge about the therapeutic uses of Cannabis and reducing the stigma associated with the plant. The educational activities carried out by the project generated great engagement among participants and followers on social media. The live broadcasts allowed for direct interaction with the public, who showed interest in learning more about the therapeutic effects of Cannabis. The training sessions also helped to demystify the plant, promoting understanding of its medicinal applications, especially in the treatment of chronic and neurodegenerative diseases. Analysis of the impact of the activities on social media showed a significant increase in the number of followers and interactions, which reflects the success of the digital education strategy. The project showed that education is an essential tool for overcoming prejudices related to medicinal Cannabis.

Key words: Cannabis sativa; Canabinoides; Health Education.