Brazilian hemp stakeholders are pushing for a 1.0% THC threshold for industrial hemp, arguing that the long-standing 0.3% international benchmark is scientifically arbitrary and poorly suited to tropical growing conditions. A new policy paper from Embrapa, HempTech Brasil and the Ficus Institute makes the case for regulatory change.
Tropical Climate Affects THC Levels
In Technical Note No. 01/2026, researchers argue that the 0.3% THC limit “should not be treated as scientific dogma.” Under tropical and subtropical conditions, hemp plants can naturally express higher THC levels than the same genetics grown farther from the equator, meaning otherwise compliant varieties risk exceeding the legal threshold.
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Several Latin American Countries Have Already Raised the Limit
Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico already operate at the 1.0% level. Colombia has a hybrid approach: 0.3% for grain and fiber crops, but up to 1.0% for flower production intended for cannabinoid extraction.
A Boost for CBD Production
A higher THC threshold would benefit Brazil’s medical CBD market. THC and CBD levels tend to rise together in hemp plants, and a 1.0% limit would give growers access to a wider range of CBD-rich genetics, enabling more efficient production.
Brazil’s Hemp Framework Still Under Development
Brazil has yet to establish a full framework for industrial hemp. Current rules from health agency Anvisa only allow strictly controlled cultivation of cannabis with up to 0.3% THC for medical and scientific purposes. A system for fiber and grain production is still missing.
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Brazil hemp stakeholders push for 1.0% THC limit, citing risk in tropical conditions
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