Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Portugal law
Portugal decriminalized drug use and possession for personal consumption; it did not legalize recreational cannabis sales. Personal-use cases are handled through an administrative framework rather than automatically treated as trafficking.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Personal use is decriminalized, not unrestricted.
- Medical: Cannabis medicines and authorized preparations are available under prescription rules.
- Possession: Administrative measures can apply. Quantity is relevant, but is not by itself a complete test of trafficking.
- Buying/Selling: Recreational supply remains illegal.
- Tourists: The personal-use framework does not create a legal shop or permission to import cannabis.
Practical guidance
Do not confuse decriminalization with permission to sell or cultivate. Cultivation remains a criminal matter even where intended for personal use.
Legislative background
The decriminalization framework took effect in 2001. A 2023 amendment clarified the treatment of possession for personal consumption, including cases above the reference quantity.
Law Enforcement
The police were usually friendly and tended to leave you alone if you weren’t causing trouble. That could go either way if you got caught. You might lose your weed and go home, or face a fine and possibly a night in custody. See Marijuana Laws for the legal overview.
Where to Buy Marijuana
“Downtown, near the Baixa—where all the tourists go, and with good reason; it’s delightful—head toward Praça Martim Moniz. There were African guys sitting on the wall by the oleander bushes. I didn’t even need to ask around. They asked first: ‘Queres fumar?’ That means ‘Do you want to smoke?’ and sounds something like ‘keresh fum’.
“I was also approached on Rua da Palma, the main street leading up from Martim Moniz. You won’t miss it: it’s the street with the tram lines. A trip on the old trams is a must on any visit to Lisbon.
“I’ve very rarely bought on the street, but it seemed safe enough and not at all seedy, although the surrounding area was rather run-down. There seemed to be no shortage of dealers: normal-looking young black men, some with the Rasta look. There were police nearby, including a vanload behind the market on the square, but they didn’t seem bothered by the trade.”
A different experience downtown
“Do not buy pot on the streets, especially in the city center. It’s full of pickpockets selling fakes. You’ll be surprised by how many come up to you, trying every possible way to sell supposed marijuana, hash, pills—whatever—or eventually pick your wallet.”
Marijuana Prices
€10 got me roughly two grams of excellent hash, a better deal than the Dutch coffee shops. Fragrant and putty-like, up there with the best I’ve had. Ten-euro deals seemed to be the norm at the time.
Types of Marijuana
Marijuana is common in Portugal. In Lisbon, I found hash much more often than actual bud. The names depended on who you asked:
- Ganza: a general name for marijuana.
- Charro: a joint.
- Bongo: a bong.
- Erva: the plant itself, with prices varying by seller and quality.
- Shamon: low-quality hash. Very cheap, very shitty.
- Pollen: medium-quality hash, about €5 a gram at the time.
- Bolota/Paki: higher-quality hash, about €10 a gram at the time.
More Information
Since hash was what I usually found, I rolled it with tobacco. If you use tobacco from cigarettes, I like Lucky Strike or the blue Português Suave. For rolling tobacco, I prefer Drum or Samson.
Travel details recorded with the guide: Portugal, UTC/GMT+0, country calling code +351 and Lisbon area code 21.