Hélder Mota Filipe: “We have to make a very clear distinction between medical and recreational cannabis.” João Gama says it is not something “in black and white”

The Bastonary of Order of Pharmacists, Hélder Mota Filipe, said today that it is crucial to make “a very clear distinction between medical and recreational cannabis”, because the perception that one has of one can “contaminate” the other. Mota Filipe spoke at the opening session of the conference Medical Cannabis Europe, which takes place today and tomorrow in the National Association of Pharmacies, in Lisbon. 

The Chairman also praised the role of pharmacists in monitoring patients who use medical cannabis in Portugal and stated that access to cannabis-based medicines, preparations and substances must be done “with quality assurance”.

“CBD as a food or cosmetic supplement is illegal. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or misinformed” – João Taborda da Gama

For his part, João Taborda da Gama, a lawyer for Gama Glória, said that the division between “medicinal” and “recreational” is not something “in black and white”. In a presentation dedicated to the cannabis regulation and certification process in Portugal, Gama explained that the distinction may seem “quite obvious” for the pharmaceutical or medicinal sector, but for society in general and for lawyers in particular, “this issue is not so clear”.

João Taborda da Gama during his presentation at Medical Cannabis Europe, in Lisbon. Photo: Laura Ramos | cannareporter

Gama referred to the data do published survey by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in around 30 European countries, which revealed that the majority of people who use cannabis “recreationally” do so for therapeutic purposes.

Os data related to Portugal were published by SICAD - Intervention Service in Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies and found that the majority of a sample of 3188 people who used cannabis in 2022 did so to reduce stress and relax (84%). 60% said that cannabis helped them to have fun or improve their sleep quality (52%) and around 40% of those surveyed also said that cannabis helped them to treat anxiety or depression. João Gama also recalled the regulatory labyrinth of CBD, reiterating that, in light of the law, “CBD as a food or cosmetic supplement is illegal” and that “anyone who says otherwise is lying or misinformed”.

The lawyer also drew attention to the therapeutic claims that appear on labels, stores or products with CBD, as “they are not medicines or supplements”, warning that these claims may constitute a crime or offence.