Medicinal plants with toxic effects and legalization of Cannabis sativa: perceptions of science teachers in training

Abstract

Currently, many people still choose to use medicinal plants (MPs) to treat certain diseases. However, little is discussed about the fact that they can also harm health if used inappropriately. Among the PM species, there is Cannabis sativa L., popularly known as Marijuana, which is little explored in Brazil due to its illegal recreational use. The objective of this work, therefore, was to characterize, through a form, the knowledge of science teachers in training, from the Federal University of Northern Tocantins, about PMs and their possible toxic effects, and their opinions on the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The results demonstrated that all students use or have used PMs, but know little about their toxicity, an aspect that can limit pedagogical practices considering the context of biological and cultural diversity in Tocantins. As for marijuana, some of the students did not know about the subject, while others focused on whether or not it should be released for medicinal purposes, but not always using scientific arguments, an element that reinforces the need for critical scientific literacy processes in training. of teachers.