Late September, the Portugal Medical Cannabis Conference (PTMC 2025) hosted the 7th annual event at the historic Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa, bringing together global leaders, regulators, innovators, and advocates from across the medical cannabis industry.
The event opened with Laura Ramos (Cannareporter), followed by Vasco Bettencourt, Director at INFARMED, who presented a compelling overview of six years of medicinal cannabis in Portugal. He reflected on the country’s progress and the ongoing challenge of balancing regulatory evolution with patient access and responsible industry growth.Throughout the conference, one theme was clear: integrity, credibility, and responsible communication must guide the next phase of industry development. Speakers consistently emphasised the need for collaboration between regulators, producers, healthcare professionals, and patients.
There is a growing priority to consider Portuguese patient access, and the shift towards companies contributing more actively to localised treatment through education and access initiatives, rather than focusing solely on export. Still, an imbalance between regulation and the medical framework remains, a point that resonated throughout the day.
The first roundtable featured leading innovators in the industry, including Danny Andrea (Curaleaf International), moderated by Sarah Sinclair. Danny spoke on the responsibility and opportunity industry leaders hold. Crucially, from ensuring patient access to maintaining product quality. The discussion explored pharmaceutical rigor and panel speaker, Helena Correia (Cannabis Consultant) highlighted the importance of integrating safe and effective frameworks to achieve clinical validation.
A strong focus was placed on patient-centered medication, emphasising formulations that support discreet, stigma-free use and provide confidence to both patients and prescribing clinicians.
Given the complexity of cannabis, regulation, quality, accuracy, and timely access are constant considerations. The speakers noted that while randomised controlled trials (RCTs) remain important, real-world evidence (RWE) offers valuable insights, and together they create a more holistic approach to risk assessment and quality control.
Throughout the event there was widespread agreement on the need to invest in education, research, and innovation, leveraging the growing body of data to harmonise regulation and prescribing frameworks across specific markets.
The later panels explored cultivation, supply chain, best practices, and challenges in depth.
An important reminder was raised during the third round table, exploring how, even with advanced technology, controls and detailed data, the cultivation process is complex subject to external factors that could affect the harvest. As Louis Golaz noted, ‘you can’t improve if you don’t measure’, a reminder that data-driven cultivation remains key to advancing best practices. Ultimately, the message highlighted that industry-wide standards for cultivation, genetics, and technology are crucial, not only for compliance but for ensuring safety, consistency, and patient trust.
The final roundtable discussed the global supply chain and the role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping access. There was open and honest discussion about whether medical cannabis can truly thrive within traditional pharmaceutical structures, and how patients should best be supported.
The diversity of perspectives made the panel both challenging and refreshing, highlighting once again that responsibility and collaboration must remain central as the sector advances.
The event showcased eye-opening discussions on the global impact and potential of the industry first-hand. Notably, to witness how connection and communication contribute to innovation across every part of the industry: from patients and doctors to products, distribution, and education.
The day concluded with a memorable evening at Casa do Alentejo, a beautiful venue for continued conversation and networking. The final session reflected on 100 years of prohibition, 25 years of decriminalisation, and the ongoing journey toward balanced, evidence-based approaches to cannabis policy and patient care. There was a unique political debate featuring diverse and passionate voices ultimately concluding the importance of moving toward safe, effective, and accessible medication for patients worldwide.
Curaleaf International was proud to sponsor PTMC 2025 and to contribute to the dialogue on evidence-based progress, innovation, and patient access. As a trusted voice in cannabis science, supply chain, and policy, we remain committed to advancing responsible, research-backed approaches that improve patient outcomes across Europe and beyond.
