Portugal's Weed Laws & Decriminalization Regulations

Article by

Bud Kushman

Published:

Jul 23, 2025

Updated:

Oct 6, 2025

Portugal took a relaxing turn in 2001 when the country decriminalized the personal use and possession of small amounts of all drugs, including cannabis. This bold move was made as a public health strategy, aiming to treat drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one.

Now, the possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis flower or 5 grams of hashish for personal use is not seen as a criminal offence that's punishable with arrest or imprisonment, instead, the product will be confiscated and the person in possession will get a warning, receive a fine, or get referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction for further assessment.

In 2018, the Portuguese government legalized cannabis for medical use, allowing patients with specific health conditions to have access to the plant as an alternative to traditional treatments.

Below you can find the summary of the cannabis laws in Portugal.

Is Weed Legal in Portugal?

No, cannabis is illegal in Portugal. However, the possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis flower or 5 grams of hashish for personal use is decriminalized and will result in the product being confiscated, and the person in possession getting a warning, receiving a fine, or being referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction for further assessment.

What Does Decriminalized Mean?

Cannabis decriminalization means the plant remains illegal, but possession is no longer treated as a criminal offense. Instead of arrest or imprisonment, people found with amounts below the decriminalized threshold will receive a warning, fine, referral to a drug treatment program, or some other type of non-custodial penalty.

By removing criminal penalties, decriminalization helps reduce the social and economic impact of enforcing cannabis laws, such as policing, court proceedings, and jail time.