CannaReporter

09/01/2026

The Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) has spent over €3 million on the drug Epidyolex since 2021.

According to contracts available on the Base portal, hospitals and local health units are accessing the drug through an Early Access Program (PAP), available only in very specific cases through hospital pharmacies.

The PAP aims to evaluate and decide on public funding for this drug, i.e., co-payment in community pharmacies, since Epidyolex has never been introduced to the market.

Infarmed (the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products) has been evaluating this program for four years, which is essential for Epidyolex to be co-paid and available in community pharmacies—although Jazz Pharmaceuticals may decide never to market the drug.

CannaReporter® attempted to better understand this situation with the Portuguese regulator and Jazz, but the responses did not clarify several of the questions raised.

Read more at CannaReporter.eu

22/12/2025

New Zealand took a decisive step towards modernizing the legal framework for industrial h**p, with the Minister of Regulation announcing a profound reform that eliminates the need for mandatory licenses and reduces the bureaucratic burden imposed on producers.

The decision is seen by the sector as a “historic milestone,” the result of years of joint pressure. The THC limit will be set at 1%, and the commercialization of biomass will be permitted.

Read more at CannaReporter.eu

15/12/2025

South Africa announced the entry into force of the new Plant Improvement Act, which establishes a limit of 2% for industrial h**p.

The new law, which updates and replaces the previous law relating to agricultural production, includes a significant change: among the most relevant changes is the legal redefinition of ‘h**p’, which is now classified as “plants or parts of Cannabis sativa L. intended for industrial or agricultural purposes, provided they have a maximum THC content of 2% in the leaves and flowers”, Newsweed announced.

You can listen to or read this article in Portuguese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Hebrew, Thai, Japanese, Arabic, Czech, Greek, Russian, Hindi, Korean, Turkish or Mandarin at CannaReporter®.eu
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13/12/2025

Several teams from the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) and the Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Economia (ASAE) are conducting raids on h**p and CBD produce és and shops across the country.

Since last week, several people have been arrested and had their goods and products seized, with losses reaching thousands of euros. Some of these investigations have had the support of the DGAV, the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, the institution responsible for authorizing h**p cultivation in the country.

CannaReporter® is in contact with several of the affected producers and entrepreneurs and is trying to obtain answers from the authorities involved.

Read more at CannaReporter.eu

13/12/2025

CannPrisma has regained all licenses from Infarmed — the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products IP — to operate with medicinal cannabis: Cultivation, Manufacturing, Import, Export and Distribution. The news was confirmed this morning to CannaReporter® by Elsa Pereira, the company’s current CEO.

Read more at CannaReporter.eu

14/10/2025

During the 16th Public Meeting of the Board of Directors, the Brazilian National Health Security Agency Anvisa once again requested an extension to comply with the Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) decision, which authorized the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.

The Court had already demanded regulation of the cultivation last year, but ANVISA requested a postponement until September of this year.

However, once again, ANVISA failed to comply, claiming it was impossible to create a regulatory framework for the industry in such a short timeframe, and requested a further extension.

The THC limit is one of the most sensitive points of this regulation.

Read this article from João Costa in the link below ⬇️

Reading Time: 4 minutesEditor's note: Pedro Sabaciauskis' statements regarding meetings with associations were included on 10/13 at 14:43 pm. During the 16th Public Meeting of the Collegiate Board, the Brazilian National Health Security Agency (ANVISA) once again requested an extension of the deadli...

02/10/2025

At the end of the Portugal Medical Cannabis 2025 conference day in Lisbon, a heated debate took place which was the most sui generis of the entire event. Because it’s a year to mark two important dates, the roundtable’s theme was “100 Years of Prohibition, 25 of Decriminalization in Portugal: Future Paths,” and it was something those who attended will hardly forget.

Find out why in this summary article of this special session.

Read more at CannaReporter.eu

02/10/2025

The second edition of the H**p for the Future conference kicks off tomorrow in Reykjavik, an event bringing together international experts in industrial h**p, medicinal cannabis, sustainability, and public policy.

Organized by the Icelandic H**p Association, the meeting will take place on October 2nd and 3rd, 2025, at the historic Iðnó venue in the center of the Icelandic capital. The event will also be streamed live.

Follow this link or click on the stories: https://www.muvi.tv/live/91fe9602b7wn

24/09/2025

𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝟮𝟱 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹: 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀
📅 September 25 | 19:00 – 20:00
📍 Casa do Alentejo, Lisbon

In 2025, the world marks a century of international drug prohibition, while Portugal commemorates 25 years of its pioneering decriminalization model — a policy that has been widely studied and referenced around the globe. This panel will reflect on the lessons learned from both milestones and discuss what lies ahead for drug policy, with a focus on cannabis.

The discussion will explore key themes such as:

The successes and limitations of Portugal’s decriminalization approach.

How international prohibition has shaped public health, justice systems, and cannabis policy.

The political, social, and scientific perspectives influencing the next steps for reform.

Possible future paths for Portugal and Europe in balancing public health, personal freedom, and regulation.

Bringing together voices from academia, policy, analysis and politics, this debate will address how Portugal’s experience can inform global reform and what role cannabis regulation might play in the next chapter of drug policy.

23/09/2025

𝗣𝗧𝗠𝗖𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗗𝗿. 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 - 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗜.𝗣.

Many professionals working in the medical cannabis sector face questions about licensing procedures and regulatory frameworks in Portugal. To provide clarity and guidance, Dr. Vasco Bettencourt, Director of the Licensing Unit and Coordinator of the Cannabis Office for Medicinal Purposes at Infarmed — the Portuguese Authority for Medicines and Health Products I.P. — will open the session at PTMC 2025, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m..

In his presentation, Dr. Bettencourt will share an overview of the evolution of the cannabis industry in Portugal over the past year, highlighting regulatory developments, licensing activity and the main challenges and opportunities identified by Infarmed.

This will be a unique opportunity for participants to gain first-hand insights directly from the regulator and better understand the future direction of the Portuguese medical cannabis market. A round of Q&A will follow, allowing attendees to address specific questions.

22/09/2025

𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
📅 September 25 | 11:00 – 12:00
📍 Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
This session will focus on the intersection of pharmaceutical science and cannabis, exploring how innovation can transform the plant into standardized, safe and effective medicines. The debate will highlight the latest advances in formulation, delivery methods, clinical research and product development, while also addressing regulatory hurdles and quality standards.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻:
👉 How pharmaceutical innovation can improve patient outcomes and expand therapeutic options.
👉 The role of rigorous testing, research and compliance in ensuring product quality and safety.
👉 Scientific and technological challenges that remain in the development of cannabis-based medicines.
👉 The opportunities for Europe to position itself as a leader in pharmaceutical cannabis innovation.

The goal of this panel is to bring different perspectives together (from science and research to industry and consultancy) to better understand how cannabis can integrate into modern medicine and what steps are needed to advance the field.

21/09/2025

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗧𝗠𝗖𝟮𝟱

Cláudia Estêvão is a Member of the Assembly of the Republic for the CHEGA Party, elected in the Setúbal constituency. A registered nurse with a 30-year career in the National Health Service (SNS), where she holds management positions, she holds a master's degree in Health Management and has dedicated herself to defending the Portuguese SNS, transparency and community outreach. In Parliament, she serves on the Health Committee and has focused her work on public health, access to medicines and community outreach policies.

🗓️ September 25–26
📍 Lisbon, Portugal
🎟️ Get your tickets now at ptmc.pt