Coming to Portugal? As you plan your itinerary, you might be wondering whether or not you should pencil in some time for a smoke sesh on the beach. Sun, sand, and a strong sativa joint sound nice, right? You bet it does, but weed is unfortunately not legal in Portugal.
However, before you hastily book a flight elsewhere to satisfy your cannabis cravings, it’s important to note that Portugal has taken a unique approach to drug laws, and while it’s illegal to buy, it’s not illegal to smoke in private. In 2001, the country decriminalized all drugs, including cannabis. This means that while possession and consumption of drugs may not be legal, it’s not considered a criminal offense either.
Portugal’s approach has been praised for shifting the focus from punishment to prevention and treatment, leading to a significant reduction in drug-related deaths and addiction. So, while you may not find legal dispensaries or Amsterdam-like coffee shops in Portugal, rest assured that the country has a more progressive and compassionate stance towards drugs and drug users than other countries in Europe.
From medical use and decriminalization laws to possession limits, there’s a lot to learn about smoking weed in Portugal. Here’s exactly what you should know before planning your next vacation in this sunny Mediterranean country.
Legal Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Please research local laws when traveling, especially in Portugal. We do not advocate the use of drugs, decriminalized or otherwise.
“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.”
CARL SAGAN
Is Weed Legal in Portugal?
As mentioned above, it’s an interesting legal landscape for cannabis in Portugal. Currently, marijuana in Portugal is decriminalized but not necessarily given the full legal greenlight. Unless it is prescribed and dispensed by a doctor and pharmacy for medical purposes, that is.
The caveat is that conventional treatments must have already failed to work before cannabis can be prescribed as an alternative therapeutic option. In any case, Portugal has come a long way from punitive measures surrounding cannabis, having adopted relatively progressive cannabis laws compared to other countries.
However, that doesn’t mean you can join a cannabis club as you can (discreetly) in Spain or smoke openly in cafes like you might in Amsterdam. You won’t find marijuana (legally) for sale in Portugal, at least not cannabis with “regular” levels of THC (we’ll get into CBD, Delta 8, and HHC in just a bit).
What to Know: Weed isn’t technically legal in Portugal, but it is decriminalized. This means that possession, consumption, and cultivation for personal are legal and have been since 2001. However, commercial production and sale remain illegal.
Instead, what you will find are a lot of shady sellers in city centers whispering offers of hashish. It didn’t take but three minutes into our arrival at our first Airbnb in the Cais do Sodré neighborhood of Lisbon to be offered hashish quietly by a man meandering down the street.
While accepting his offer, purchasing marijuana, and smoking it might not be illegal in Portugal, it’s wise to stay away from the street vendors as they’re selling a mix of poor-quality oregano, bay leaves, and other ingredients you shouldn’t be ingesting.
The bottom line? Buying weed in Portugal is illegal, but it’s not a crime to smoke it in the comfort of your own home. There’s a 20-gram personal limit, which we’ll explain below, but basically, if you’re caught with weed in Portugal, as long as it’s under 20g, you won’t likely be fined or sent off to jail.
Decriminalization of Weed in Portugal
What was behind the decision to decriminalize weed and other substances in Portugal? In 1999, Portugal was ranked as the European country with the highest rate of HIV among injecting users. Following this scary revelation, the Portuguese government declared the issue a public health crisis and started taking action to prevent drug use nationwide.
It’s what led them to decriminalize weed back in July of 2001, quietly adopting one of the most progressive drug policies in the world. With a single pen stroke, Portugal removed criminal penalties for possessing or consuming certain amounts of cannabis and all other drugs, including meth and heroin.
Also Read: What is Portugal Known For?
Instead of relying on punitive criminal justice measures, Portugal opted to employ more enlightened methods such as warnings and small fines or gave those caught with a personal supply the opportunity to be referred to local commissions for support and treatment.
These local commissions are called CDTs, which is short for Commissions for the Dissuasions from Drug Abuse. These regional panels greatly help those in possession of drugs (or those actively dealing with addiction) and evaluate if they are an occasional or dependent drug user in need of assistance.
CDT members, like social workers and medical professionals, understand how best to approach these individuals and suggest courses of action that encourage rehabilitation or education programs. The result? Dramatic drops in overdose deaths, drug-related crimes, incarceration rates, and even reduced HIV and hepatitis infection rates.
Medical Cannabis Prescriptions in Portugal
Medical cannabis prescriptions are legal in Portugal (and have been since 2018), but they don’t hand them out as they did back when California started with the same scheme. You can’t just Google “medical marijuana doctor near me,” fill out a form that says you suffer from anxiety or glaucoma, and then get a medical marijuana license in Portugal that easily.
If traditional treatments aren’t working, medical professionals may suggest medical cannabis with a few caveats. Namely, a board-certified medical professional has to have deemed it necessary to prescribe the drug, and it needs to be dispensed by a pharmacy.
Currently, there aren’t that many pharmacies that offer medical marijuana. Even if they do, you have to have them order it as they don’t keep it in stock like you might see in the glass jars when visiting a dispensary in places like Colorado, Toronto, or even Barcelona.
Unfortunately, even online eCommerce stores selling Delta 8 and HHC to other European countries don’t always ship to Portugal.
What to Know About Getting Marijuana in Portugal
- Decriminalization is not legalization: While possession of small amounts of weed is decriminalized in Portugal, buying and selling it remains illegal. This means that although you won’t go to jail for being caught with marijuana, you also won’t be able to walk into a dispensary and buy a bag of weed like you could in California or Canada. Instead, you’ll have to rely on local contacts or underground networks to get your hands on it (or opt for an alternative like HHC).
- High-quality weed is super hard to find: Due to its illegal status, getting hold of high-quality weed in Portugal can be tricky. Although you’ll find a thriving black market for low-quality strains, the more potent ones are harder to come by. Even if you do find it, it’s usually hash. However, there are a small number of legal medical cannabis dispensaries in the country, so if you have a legitimate medical condition, you might be able to access it that way.
- Portuguese police are generally relaxed about marijuana: Despite the laws against the buying and selling of marijuana, the Portuguese police are generally quite relaxed when it comes to recreational use. As long as you keep a low profile and avoid smoking in front of law enforcement officials, you’re unlikely to get into trouble. However, it’s worth noting that the laws are still on the books, and if you’re caught with a large amount of marijuana or caught selling it, you could still face serious legal repercussions.
Is it Legal to Smoke Weed in Portugal?
Despite its reputation for liberal drug laws, Portugal still has strict regulations regarding smoking marijuana. In theory, as mentioned, it’s illegal to smoke weed in Portugal; however, it’s quite a different story in practice. Possession of 20 grams or less of cannabis flower doesn’t currently result in criminal charges.
Instead, if you’re caught with over 20 grams of weed, you’ll likely have your bud confiscated and face administrative fines (which, as a tourist, would quite honestly suck). What if you buy weed from a friend and smoke a small joint on the beach in the Algarve? Getting caught will likely result in a slap on the wrist from the police who caught you, nothing more.
What’s important to know, if you’re dead set on smoking weed in Portugal, is that you can possess an amount equal to a 10-day personal supply (depending on the substance ) without being reprimanded by Portugal’s drug laws. That’s where the 20-gram rule comes from.
Can You Grow Cannabis in Portugal?
Yes, you can possess plants that don’t exceed the 10-day personal supply limit. However, it’s still a grey area since it’s technically illegal to produce, import, or sell recreational marijuana in Portugal. However, the Portuguese government does allow certain organizations to apply for cannabis cultivation licenses. To obtain a cannabis license in Portugal, you’ll make your first stop at the website of Infarmed, the Portuguese regulatory body responsible for medical cannabis.
What to Know About Portuguese Cannabis Cultivation License: All of the applications are currently in Portuguese (which makes sense), so if you don’t speak Portuguese, you might find the process difficult. Even if you do speak Portuguese, you’ll find that the process is quite stringent.
If you’re lucky enough to be approved for a cannabis cultivation license in Portugal, it’s valid for up to one year and requires you to provide lots of documentation. Basically, they won’t approve just anybody.
Also Read: Tips for Traveling in Portugal
Other Types of Cannabis in Portugal
While Portugal decriminalized the use and possession of cannabis in 2001, the legality and availability of other types of cannabis in the country are still topics of debate. However, travelers might be surprised to learn that some forms of cannabis are readily available, such as CBD and HHC. These compounds offer a range of benefits along with the similar psychoactive effects of THC (at least in the case of HHC) and can be found in specialty shops and online retailers throughout Portugal and other parts of Europe.
CBD is Legal in Portugal
CBD is totally legal in Portugal. That means you don’t need a prescription or any special permission to purchase CBD oil and other Cannabidiol supplements as long as there’s no THC involved. You can buy CBD ointments, CBD drops, CBD gummies…the list is endless regarding CBD products available on the Portuguese market.
Currently, CBD is quite prevalent in Portugal, too. If you look for “cannabis shops in Lisbon,” the first shop that will come up is the famous Cannabis Store Amsterdam. They’re well-known for selling various CBD products (which you can even order on Glovo straight to your hotel or Airbnb), including CBD brownies, teas, cookies, vapes, and accessories.
CBD Weed, Green Swallow, and Green Mama are all popular places to get CBD in Lisbon and other cities in Portugal. They all sell CBD products.
Is HHC or Delta 8 Legal in Portugal?
That’s also a grey area here, but HHC is widely available to buy in Europe, including Portugal. There are online companies that sell Delta 8 and HHC to Portuguese residents, including Vapora, a Portuguese vape shop in Nazaré offering HHC vapes and flower.
This means that you can purchase HHC and Delta 8 online and have them mailed to a residence in Portugal. Most of the companies that sell Delta 8 are in places like the Czech Republic, Hungary, or even France, including companies like Hempire Gardens and Canatura. However, plenty of Portuguese eCommerce stores and vape shops are now selling HHC vapes and edibles, too.
Because they are unregulated substances and technically “food products,” it’s a legal grey area at the moment, which is why it’s easy to find and purchase HHC online and get it shipped to Portugal. The authorities are monitoring it closely, though, as HHC only appeared on European markets as recently as 2022.
What to Know: As of 2024, Delta 8 is now incredibly hard to find in Portugal. HHC is more widely available, and you will find plenty of Portuguese vape shops selling HHC and THC-P.
The Future of Drugs in Portugal
So, is weed legal in Portugal? The short answer is no. You can’t legally purchase or consume marijuana openly in Portugal. However, it is decriminalized, which means that if you have a small amount of cannabis you want to smoke privately with friends and get caught, the police won’t likely send you to jail or take any action beyond confiscating your weed.
All in all, marijuana laws in Portugal feel a lot similar to the marijuana laws back in California when they first made medical marijuana legal — confusing. It’s not a criminal offense if you’re just smoking at home, but it’s illegal to carry and buy. The bottom line? Be careful when buying or smoking weed in Portugal. It’s not worth ruining a great vacation in this sunny European country over a small joint or cannabis edible. There are plenty of things to see and do here sober.
