Production of cannabis-based products at the Portuguese company FAI Therapeutics, part of the Iberfar group
“California 2.0” aspires to become the European center of the “green gold” industry. Portugal “is clearly at the forefront of European countries that produce cannabis for medicinal use”.
With its warm and temperate climate — and a favorable regulatory framework — Portugal is increasingly positioned as one of the main European producers of medical cannabis.
With conditions similar to those of Californiathe country is becoming a magnet for global producers and investors in the fast-growing industry — whose worldwide revenues are expected to reach $64.73 billion this year.
Located close to Serpain the southeast of Portugal, a 5.4 hectare farm, owned by FAI Therapeuticsis an example of the growth of industry in the country.
At , agronomist José Martins highlights Portugal’s environmental advantages. “No other country in Europe has better environmental conditions,” she says on the farm, equipped with security measures such as infrared cameras and barbed wire, which annually produces around 30 tons of cannabis flowers.
Portugal’s aptitude for growing cannabis attracted more than 60 authorized companies and 170 pending orders to cultivate, produce or distribute medical marijuana. The country exported 12 tons of medicinal cannabis products last year, mainly to Germany, Poland, Spain and Australia.
Legislation is a seal of trust
The industry gained momentum after the 2019 Portuguese legislation allowing marijuana-based medicines.
In March, the FAI received the green light from Infarmed to launch a drug based on the cannabis plant for medicinal purposes on the market — this is an oral CBD solution specially formulated for medicinal purposes, namely to alleviate associated chronic pain. to a wide range of conditions, including cancer.
This new regulatory framework establishes rigorous quality standards, and reassures international buyers about the safety and efficacy of Portuguese cannabis products. You regulations are the seal of trust for international customersas Pedro Ferraz da Costa, CEO of the Iberfar Group, owner of the Serpa farm, explains to the French news agency.
AFP also brings examples such as the multinational company Tilraya Canadian company that established operations in the country in 2019. Its facilities, close to Cantanhedeinclude laboratories, processing units and packaging sites, from where cannabis oil is exported to regions of Latin America.
The global medical cannabis market, valued at 15.8 billion euros in 2022, is expected to grow to more than R$61.9 billion by 2030according to the consulting company Grand View Research, a 291% growth driven by growing demand for treatments for chronic pain, side effects of cancer therapy, epilepsy and other conditions.
“Portugal is clearly at the forefront of European countries that produce cannabis for medicinal use”, said José Tempero, medical director at Tilray. “There is a huge demand from patients”said Bernard Babel, director of the German cannabis pharmaceutical company Avextrawhich also installed part of its activity in Portugal.
“There is a lack of information among health professionals” in Portugal
Despite its thriving manufacturing industry, Portugal faces some challenges internal to make medical cannabis accessible.
Patients report difficulties obtaining prescriptions, as many doctors remain reluctant to prescribe cannabis-based treatments and costs are not fully covered by the public healthcare system.
“There is a lack of information” among healthcare professionals, said Lara Silva, whose six-year-old daughter with severe epilepsy benefits from CBD, a cannabis derivative. Due to limited availability in Portugal, he had to purchase the medicine in Spain.
