Reports on medicinal cannabis activity trends for the previous year and the first half of this year show that exports continue to rise after the surge in the prior year, when exported volume tripled (from 11,973 to 31,188 kilograms).

Last year, over 79 tonnes were exported, and in the first half of this year, the 66-tonne mark (66,305 kilograms) has already been surpassed.

Medicinal market

The European Union (EU) remains the primary market for medicinal cannabis exports, with Germany, Spain, and Denmark as the leading destinations.

Regarding oversight, Infarmed conducted 32 inspections of cultivation and manufacturing sites between January and June of this year, with the majority (27) focusing on cultivation.

Last year, Infarmed conducted 57 inspections in these areas, up from 38 the year before.

By the end of the first half of this year, Infarmed said 43 entities were authorised for cultivation and manufacturing.

Regulation restrictions

The law regulating the use of cannabis-based medicines, preparations, and substances for medical purposes was approved in 2018; it stipulates that any physician authorised to practice in Portugal may prescribe these substances, which may be sold in pharmacies.

However, the law restricted this option to situations where conventional treatments fail to produce the expected results or cause significant adverse effects.

There has been an increase in the domestic market in prescriptions for cannabis-based preparations and substances that hold a marketing authorisation (MA).

According to data from Infarmed, 5,413 prescriptions were recorded in the first half of this year. The totals were 7,023 for the entirety of last year and 4,143 in 2024.

Control procedures

In response to market growth, Infarmed has strengthened its control procedures over the past two years and adopted various regulatory measures, including the suspension, revocation, and non-renewal of authorisations, when legal and regulatory requirements were not met.

Infarmed has approved several therapeutic indications for treatment with cannabis-based preparations and substances, including nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combination therapies for HIV and hepatitis.

Other indications include Tourette syndrome, appetite stimulation in palliative care for cancer or AIDS patients, chronic pain associated with cancer or nervous system disorders, and epilepsy and severe childhood seizure disorders.