Portugal Decriminalized
Since 2001, possession up to 25g flower / 5g hash is an administrative matter, not a crime. There are no licensed adult-use shops — recreational supply runs through gray-market channels despite decriminalization.
Legal Framework
Portugal decriminalized possession of all drugs for personal use, including cannabis, under Law 30/2000, which took effect on 1 July 2001. Possession up to roughly a 10-day personal supply — interpreted in practice as about 25 grams of herbal cannabis or 5 grams of hashish — is treated as an administrative violation, not a crime. — NORML
Rather than going through criminal courts, cases are referred to regional "Commissions for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction," panels made up of one legal official and two health/social-work professionals. The commission first assesses whether the person is addicted and to what degree, then decides on a response — which can range from a warning to a fine or a referral to treatment; there is no arrest and no criminal record for simple possession within the threshold.
Decriminalization applies only to possession and personal use — it does not create any legal retail market. There are no licensed adult-use shops in Portugal, and despite the relaxed possession enforcement, recreational supply still runs through unregulated, gray-market channels.
Medical Cannabis Program
Portugal's medical cannabis framework was established by Law No. 33/2018, with implementation and market-authorization details set out in Decree-Law No. 8/2019. Cannabis-based medicinal products may only be prescribed when conventional treatments have proven ineffective or caused significant adverse effects, and only for therapeutic indications approved by INFARMED, the national medicines authority. Prescriptions must be issued on a special Ministry of Health-approved form identifying the patient, prescribing doctor, exact product, quantity, dosage and mode of administration, and can only be dispensed by licensed pharmacies. Any cannabis-based product other than the EU-approved medicines Sativex and Epidyolex additionally needs its own Market Placing Authorisation (ACM) from INFARMED before a doctor can prescribe it. — CMS Law
Uptake has been modest and uneven: annual prescriptions rose from about 460 in 2021 to 1,157 in 2023, then slowed to roughly 757 recorded through the first three quarters of 2024, suggesting the program remains a narrow, specialist-driven pathway rather than a mainstream treatment option.
Traveling with Medical Cannabis
No official Portuguese government statement was found confirming a formal legal "right" for foreign patients to bring their own prescribed cannabis medicine into the country — Portugal's decriminalization law addresses domestic possession enforcement, not cross-border import of controlled medicines. The practical guidance from patient-travel resources is to carry both the original prescription and a signed medical letter from the prescribing doctor explaining the diagnosis and need for the medication, and to separately request a travel certificate from the prescribing clinic stating prescription details, travel dates and medication information. Because THC-containing medicines are controlled substances, importation may require prior authorization from INFARMED, and patients are advised to contact INFARMED directly before traveling to confirm current requirements for their specific situation, rather than assume a home-country prescription alone will be accepted at the border. — Releaf
Recent Developments
- Industry reporting in 2025 describes INFARMED tightening import/export documentation requirements and GMP proof for medical cannabis, alongside Portugal's growing role as a cannabis cultivation and export hub for the wider European market — though this reflects industry/trade coverage rather than a published INFARMED policy notice, so specifics should be verified directly with INFARMED. — The Portugal News
- Patient prescription numbers slowed in 2024 after several years of growth, which sector commentary attributes to the continued reliance on specialist referral and INFARMED product-by-product authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be arrested for carrying a small amount of cannabis in Portugal?
No, if the amount is within roughly a 10-day personal supply (about 25g flower/5g hash), it is handled as an administrative matter by a Dissuasion Commission, not as a criminal case — but it is still illegal, and larger amounts or any sale can lead to criminal charges.
Can I buy cannabis legally in a Portuguese shop?
No. Decriminalization covers possession, not sale; there is no licensed recreational retail market.
How do I get a medical cannabis prescription in Portugal?
Only after conventional treatments have failed or caused significant side effects, from a doctor prescribing an INFARMED-approved product on the official special prescription form, dispensed via a licensed pharmacy.
Can I bring my foreign medical cannabis prescription to Portugal?
There is no confirmed official pathway; contact INFARMED directly before travel and carry your prescription plus a doctor's letter and travel certificate.