Cannabis plantations as an aspect of population survival and as a public policy and security issue in the northeast region of Brazil Fraga, P. & Martins, R. (2020). Cannabis plantations Paulo Fraga* as an aspect of population survival and as a public policy and security issue in the northeast region Rogéria Martins** of Brazil. Revista Cultura y Droga, 25(30), 37-60. https://doi.org/10.17151/culdr.2020.25.30.3 Recibido: 30 de marzo de 2020 Aprobado: 2 de junio de 2020 Abstract Based on historical and structural data, this article aims to discuss the cultivation of cannabis as a social and political issue in Brazil. The objective was to analyze the genesis of the issue of illegal plantations, its evolution, the governmental response and its consequences for public security and agricultural policies in the São Francisco Valley region, in the Northeast of Brazil. Qualitative methodologies were used with emphasis on the descriptive analysis of the phenomenon. The result is that the state steps that affected the environment, the Brazilian drug policy, the inefficient agricultural policy for the semi-arid region and the plantation eradication measures are directly and indirectly related to the continuation of the plantations as relevant economic and criminal activities. Key words: illicit crops, drugs, public policy, Brazil, police. * Visiting Scholar, Catholic University of Portugal, Porto. Professor at Social Sciences. Department- Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil. E-mail:
[email protected] &
[email protected]. orcid.org/0000-0001-9140-8586. Google Scholar ** Professor at Social Sciences Department-Federal University Juiz de Fora, Brazil.