Travel Tuesday: What to know when travelling to Portugal with medical cannabis

Is medical cannabis legal in Portugal?

Portugal arguably takes one of Europe’s (if not the world’s) most interesting approaches to cannabis policy - and drug policy more widely. Since 2001, all drugs have been decriminalised in Portugal in an effort to treat drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one. However, patients were still unable to legally access regulated cannabis-based medicines until 2018. 

Since then, medical cannabis has been available on prescription through licensed pharmacies. Portugal’s approach to medical cannabis is very similar to that taken in the UK. Following a consultation with a doctor, patients can be prescribed medical cannabis for a wide range of conditions. 

According to current guidance, the prescription of medical cannabis in Portugal can only take place “when conventional treatments are not efficient or cause relevant adverse effects”. Prescribed products must also have been approved by INFARMED - the country’s national medicines authority.

But how do current guidelines apply to patients travelling to Portugal with prescribed medical cannabis?

Can I travel to Portugal with my medical cannabis?

Prescribed medical cannabis may be legal in both the UK and Portugal, but that doesn’t mean you can just pack it in your suitcase and head off to the airport. Cannabis-based medicines contain controlled substances, such as THC, which may require importation authorisation from your destination country. 

Requirements for obtaining this authorisation can vary between countries, so it is always important to check the official government guidance of the country you are travelling to.

Seeking authorisation to bring medical cannabis to Portugal

Generally, Portugal allows travellers to bring up to a 30-day supply of prescribed medical cannabis. When planning your travels to Portugal as a medical cannabis patient, you should contact INFARMED to request authorisation to bring your medication with you. This can be done via email (infarmed@infarmed.pt). 

Your request should include the following details:

• Patient information (including your full name, address, and date of birth)
• Passport number
• Medication details (name of drug or its composition, dosage, and duration of prescription)
• Travel information (including flight details and travel dates)
• Details of prescribing physician (full name, license number, and signature)
• Details of the issuing authority (name, address, official seal, and signature of the responsible officer. 

It is essential to allow enough time for processing before your travel dates. In some cases, licensing matters can take up to 90 days to be completed, but travel-specific requests are usually handled much faster. 

Requesting a medical cannabis travel certificate at Releaf

In addition to seeking authorisation from Portugal’s national medicines authority, you should also request a travel certificate from your prescribing clinic. Not all UK medical cannabis clinics offer this service, but with Releaf, this process couldn’t be easier. 

Releaf offers free travel certificates that include all the relevant information related to your prescription details and travel plans, including your prescription information, travel dates, and medication details. Certificates can be easily requested through your patient portal. 

You can typically expect to receive a printed copy of your Releaf travel certificate within two to five days of your departure date. You may also request a digitally downloadable copy, which should be received within 2 hours. However, it is always a good idea to send your request as soon as possible, while accounting for the validity of your current prescription. 

As such, when requesting a travel certificate, your travel dates should be no more than 28 days after the shipping date of your latest prescription. Requesting a certificate outside of this timeframe may mean that your prescription may not be valid at the time of your travel.

For a step-by step guide to our travel certificates, head to ‘How to request a travel certificate for medical cannabis’. 

More practical advice for travelling with medical cannabis

Receiving a medical cannabis prescription can offer peace of mind to many patients in the UK, but we understand that travelling with a medication that is often met with stigma and misunderstanding can be daunting. But being as prepared as possible will help to ensure your travel plans go smoothly. 

In addition to seeking authorisation from your destination country, we always recommend keeping your medication in its original packaging alongside a copy of your prescription. With Releaf, you can access your prescription details digitally with our medical cannabis card - simply scan the QR code to approve access! 

Finally, general guidance advises patients travelling with controlled substances to declare their products when leaving and entering a country. This can help to prevent delays during security check-in, so always keep your medication and everything else you might need in your hand luggage.

Not a legally prescribed Releaf patient? Head to our fast and free medical cannabis eligibility checker - it takes less than 30 seconds to complete, and you'll find out if you could potentially qualify for a medical cannabis prescription in the UK instantly.

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