What the law says
| Situation | Regime | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Using, buying, holding for personal use (up to 10 days of consumption) | administrative offence (contraordenação), no prison; handled by a Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction (CDT) | Law 30/2000, art. 2 |
| Reference limits for 10 days | about 25 g of cannabis herb, 5 g of hashish, 2 g of cocaine (Portaria 94/96, from a legal article) | Portaria 94/96 |
| Above the limit | not automatically a crime: a judge decides between use and trafficking | Portuguese press (DN) |
| Selling, supplying, trafficking | a crime; ordinary trafficking carries 4 to 12 years in prison | Decree-Law 15/93, art. 21 |
Laws change: check the consolidated text on the Diário da República (diariodarepublica.pt). This page is not legal advice.
What happens at a police check
- Officers seize the drugs and summon you before the regional CDT, which can issue a warning, a fine or a referral to treatment.
- Using in public is frowned upon, and buying from a street dealer is risky: the substance may be fake or cut.
- Trafficking, even "helping out" a friend for money, is a crime.
- Never cross a border with drugs: decriminalisation applies only in Portugal.
See also Porto: what to know before you go and scams and safety in Porto.
FAQ
Is cannabis legal in Portugal?
No: it is decriminalised for personal use, not legalised; selling remains illegal.
Can you go to prison for a small amount?
Not for a personal-use amount, which goes to an administrative commission.
Is medical cannabis from a foreign prescription valid?
Ask the Portuguese embassy before you travel.
The Porto Authority editorial team
