Sao Paulo, Brazil – Cannabis may not be fully legal in Brazil, but that did not stop the crowd from pouring into Expo Cannabis Brazil this past November. This was the third year for the event, and the market growth was more than apparent. The Sao Paulo Expo Center was filled with more than 250 exhibitors showcasing new products, equipment, and artwork in the cannabis industry.
Attendance was encouraged through various groups in Brazil, including medical associations, educational institutes, start-up companies, and local artists. Discounted tickets were made readily available, which led to over 42,000 attendees visiting the Expo throughout the three-day event.
Cannabis Culture Requires Consumption
Expo Cannabis Brazil was focused on three main pillars: culture, industry, and innovation. Cannabis culture was consistently at the forefront of the event. The line to enter may have wrapped around the building, but there was no frustration noticeable from those waiting. Spliffs and smiles were passed around while soaking up the Brazilian sunshine, and there was no change to the vibes once attendees were granted access inside.
It is hard to highlight the culture of cannabis without consumption, which is why Expo Cannabis Brazil was a success. Consumption was everywhere on the floor: from THC and CBD infused beverage options to old school hash-laced spliffs there was more than enough cannabis to go around. The barrier of language dissipated quickly as entrepreneurs and enthusiasts came together to focus on what matters the most – the plant.
Consumption was not the only way that the culture of cannabis was highlighted at Expo Cannabis Brazil. Concerts took place each day, showcasing local musicians who advocate for the plant. There were also various mediums of artwork available for purchase, from glass pieces to custom paintings and hemp bedding pieces.
Understanding the Cannabis Industry in Brazil
Cannabis is currently illegal in Brazil for recreational use. However, the plant was decriminalized in 2006, meaning the law allows individuals to possess up to 40 grams for personal use.
Brazil also has a legal medical cannabis market with nearly 700,000 patients, which is a growth of over 55% from 2023. This growth is expected to continue in upcoming years as barriers to receive medical cannabis products are being removed to allow for greater access to patients.
Anvisa, Brazil’s health agency, manages all cannabis product access for associations and their patients. Medical cannabis companies in Brazil can import, manufacture, and sell cannabis-based medicines to approved patients. Anvisa is continuously working to expand access in the medical market – growing both product offerings and the number of patients in Brazil.
Entering Their Innovation Era
Holland Green Science was fortunate enough to be invited by its distributor, CannaVista, to experience Expo Cannabis Brazil firsthand. The Xiros Mikro small freeze dryer was perfect for the innovation section of the expo, where market-disrupting equipment was on display. Attendees were impressed by the quality of the Xiros Mikro small freeze dryer and appreciated seeing equipment that was actually designed and built for cannabis, and more specifically, hash.
Since the main cannabis market in Brazil is the medical sector, processors are looking for high-quality equipment that maintains the integrity of their products. The stainless-steel shelf stack and trays of the Xiros Mikro were attractive to buyers focused on clean consumption. Processors also appreciated the ability to store recipes and access live data monitoring of their freeze-drying cycles.
Solventless processing is still a newer practice in Brazil, but it is quickly gaining traction in the medical market. Medical patients are searching for high-quality products with little to no chemical additives, putting solventless products in large demand. Bubble hash allows clean cannabis to be offered to medical patients in various formats such as edibles, topicals, and infused products.
As legality continues to expand, so will the market in Brazil. New equipment, growers, and patients continue to enter the Brazilian cannabis market, making Brazil one of the best emerging markets in the industry for 2026.
