Cannabis Studied as an ‘Exit Drug’ in Brazil
For far too long, cannabis has been labeled as a ‘gateway drug’ by those opposing liberal cannabis policies. We’ve heard that story many times before. But what if the opposite is true? Latest Brazilian research adds to mounting evidence that cannabis can efficiently work as an exit drug.
Cannabis is Increasingly Being Researched as an ‘Exit Drug’
The new research coming from Brazil shows once again that the opposite is true: cannabis may help people reduce their use of harder drugs.
Researchers at the University of Brasília (UnB) have announced encouraging results in the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) to treat people addicted to crack cocaine, local cannabis publisher Sechat reported. Cannabis proved to be more successful than other traditional medications dispensed at Brazilian Alcohol and Drug Psychosocial Care Centers.
“For those facing the challenge of treating such complex conditions, the novelty represents a relief, both for health professionals and for patients and their families,” the outlet wrote (translated from Portuguese).
Brazilian Study Builds on Past Research That Has Came to Similar Conclusions
In 2024, researchers with the University of Southern California (USC) reached a conclusion that cannabis could help control opioid addictions. Thirty participants, recruited from a methadone clinic and a syringe exchange program in Los Angeles, participated in a study that interviewed them on how cannabis helps them stay clean from other drugs. “When you’re smoking weed it gets you over the hump and that urge to get high for the first time,” one of them said.
Last year also came out a larger international study which involved 2,697 individuals; this study showed “a high degree of efficacy” among study participants in easing drug addiction symptoms and reduction in their use of prescription opioids, alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances.
Yet another study was published in the beginning of 2025, where 60 percent of the participants reported taking fewer opioids after getting access to cannabis. “Fifty patients were able to utilize cannabis during their inpatient stay over a 1-year period after medical cannabis policy implementation. Pain relief was the primary reason for cannabis usage, with 60% of surveyed patients reporting reducing opioids since starting cannabis,” says the study outcome.
If we go back in time, we’ll find more and more studies on this topic. And the results of these studies are always the same. Once people start to use more cannabis, they are more likely to cut down on hard drugs they’ve been hooked on.
Cannabis opponents continue to be deaf and blind about that. They continue to brand cannabis as a ‘gateway drug,’ when in fact cannabis is less of a threat compared to tobacco and alcohol - both of which remain completely free and legal.
While it is difficult to prove opponents they are wrong, therapy facilities and everyone working with people who have difficult time to stop the use of harmful substances - they should take this research to their advantage.
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Stephen Andrews
