Cannadouro transforms Portugal into a meeting point for cannabis culture
In the upcoming days, the city of Porto will be filled with visitors, many of them Brazilians, seeking news about the hemp market.
By Jacqueline Passos
On November 20 and 21, the 4th edition of Cannadouro, the International Hemp Fair, will take place in the city of Porto, Portugal. The event is an annual showcase of companies, brands, and products, with the presence of associations and a series of conferences, which will feature important figures from the Brazilian scene, such as: Dr. Pedro Pierro, a neurosurgeon and scientific director of Sechat, Cecília Galício, a lawyer and activist for the end of the war on drugs, and Pedro Sabaciauskis, president of Santa Cannabis, both also columnists for Sechat.
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About the event and Portuguese legislation
The event is committed to promoting public debate within civil society around the use of hemp in three aspects: industrial, recreational, and medicinal. It even has an outdoor space where it is possible to taste culinary products prepared with hemp. This is possible because, since 2001, drug use has been decriminalized, according to Law No. 30/2000 in Portugal. In other words, those caught consuming or carrying up to 10 doses of any drug for personal use in the country are no longer arrested or fined. However, this does not mean that possession has been legalized, but rather that it is no longer considered a crime.
On the other hand, medicinal use was authorized by Law No. 33/2018, of July 18, which established the legal framework for the use of medicines, preparations, and substances based on the cannabis plant for medicinal purposes, including its prescription and dispensing in pharmacies. In fact, it is possible to see stores selling oils, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and other products made from cannabis on the streets and in malls throughout the country.
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However, despite the regulation of medicinal use, unlike what is seen in Brazil, João Carvalho, director of Cannadouro, states that the scenario in Portugal is not better than what is seen here in Brazilian lands, as they do not have the associations as we do here, which makes the market more organized and politically active.
What to expect for Cannadouro 2021
According to Carvalho, the expectation for this year's event is to receive more than five thousand visitors, as in 2019, they received around four thousand visits. For the coming years, the idea is to continue the growth of the fair, not only in the number of visitors but also in terms of sponsors and exhibitors, as well as to increasingly expand the debate on the topic. Due to the success of the event, the project for a magazine, the Cannadouro Magazine, has also begun, which can be purchased in Portugal or online from any other country.
If you are planning an international trip soon and want to learn more about the agricultural, industrial, recreational, and therapeutic aspects of cannabis, Cannadouro is a must-visit. To learn more about the event, click here and about the themes and speakers of the fair, visit the link.
About João Carvalho
João Carvalho, director of the event and the Cannadouro magazine in Portugal, holds a degree in History and Archaeology from the University of Porto, where, through music, he first came into contact with cannabis. Today, he is a major activist for the cannabis cause in Portugal and a researcher of hemp, another raw material that he also became fascinated with during his academic life. According to him, “hemp was the world's oil before the world discovered oil.” Currently, he is writing the book “Elementary History of Hemp in Portugal,” which is also expected to cover some aspects of Brazil. Therefore, João plans to visit our country soon. On this side, we eagerly await the visit of this great connoisseur of the plant so that we can share Luso-Brazilian experiences.