Cannabis exports from Portugal increased by 566% in 2021, the Journal de Notícias.
According to information from the Portuguese national medical authority Infarmed, “the quantity of dried flowers with a moisture content equal to or less than 10% exported in 2021 reached 30 tons”, exceeding the 4.5 tons of 2020, i.e. a increase of almost 600%. The markets to which the flower was exported are not mentioned.
The Portuguese newspaper reported that “the value of exports is expected to be exceeded this year”, as Portugal’s cannabis exports between January and February have already reached 10 tons.
Currently, almost all of the cannabis produced by the 18 companies authorized to cultivate in Portugal is exported, with only one cannabis derivative on sale in pharmacies in addition to Sativex.
Since the legalization of medical cannabis in Portugal in 2018, only Tilray has managed to obtain authorization to sell flowers with 18% THC for the Portuguese market.
Furthermore, there are currently only two MCA (marketing authorization) applications for cannabis-based substances, one for the dried flower for spray inhalation and the other for an oral solution. .
Infarmed told Cannareporter that both requests are pending responses from the requesting entities, without specifying whether they are for CBD, THC or both.
To date, Infarmed has authorized 18 companies to cultivate medical cannabis, but is awaiting the request for inspection of the premises of 80 others, which in the meantime have already obtained a pre-license to build their cultivation units.
