ANALYSIS OF THE PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS CULTIVATION BASED ON THE MULTIPLE FLOWS THEORY

Abstract

The Multiple Streams Theory (MST) indicates that the formation of the government agenda results from the coupling of three flows - problems, alternatives and policies - so that their misalignment would be enough to prevent a matter from entering the government agenda. This research analyzes the incorporation of the discussion on the planting of marijuana for medicinal or scientific purposes into the political agenda in order to understand why this agenda was not successfully processed by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). To this end, a case study technique was adopted, using records from the Minutes of Ordinary Public Meetings of ANVISA's Board of Directors, supported by documentary and bibliographic research. There was a predominance of ideology from 2019 to 2022, to the detriment of scientific, social and economic positions. This misalignment of public management in relation to scientific evidence and social demands has resulted in the deconfiguration of the window of opportunity, which has produced a phenomenon of non-decision. As a result, decision-making power on the issue has been transferred from the Executive to the Judiciary, which has led to access to cannabis products, at high costs, through the judicialization of health.