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Market Overview
Denmark continues to serve as one of Europe’s most advanced and export-oriented medical cannabis markets, with a framework that balances pharmaceutical oversight and commercial opportunity.
The estimated medical cannabis market size for 2025 is valued at over €3.5 million, with projections indicating growth to €XXX million by 2029 (Prohibition Partners Market Sizing Forecasts, 2025–2029).
Since the launch of its four-year pilot programme in 2018, Denmark has allowed doctors to prescribe unauthorised cannabis-based medicines within a controlled framework that includes cultivation, manufacturing, import, and export licensing. Initially set to expire in 2021, the programme was extended twice and now continues until December 2025.
In November 2024, the Danish government confirmed plans to make the pilot permanent, establishing a long-term regulatory framework for domestic production, pharmaceutical exports, and clinical prescribing.
Denmark has evolved into a major European production hub, supplying both EU and international markets. In 2024, Denmark exported over 7 tonnes of medical cannabis to Germany, ranking among the top global exporters after Canada and Portugal.
Regulatory Framework
The Danish Medicines Agency (DMA) regulates all medical cannabis activities, including licensing, inspection, and product approvals. The pilot programme introduced a safe, legal route for medical cannabis prescribing, helping to reduce illicit use and enhance patient safety.
Key regulatory components include:
- Licensing categories: Companies require distinct permits depending on whether they produce bulk/primary cannabis products (cultivation, initial processing) or intermediate products (extraction, packaging, formulation).
- Oversight: All manufacturers are subject to continuous inspection by the DMA to ensure compliance with EU-GMP standards.
- Domestic and export licensing: The framework supports commercial-scale cultivation and export of both bulk flower and oil products under EU-GMP conditions.
By enabling controlled production and export, Denmark has become a model for balancing economic opportunity with pharmaceutical-grade compliance in the cannabis sector.s.oice.ed by the European Medicines Agency, such as Sativex, which remains available under a restricted prescription pathway.
Patient Access
Who Can Prescribe?
All licensed physicians in Denmark can prescribe medical cannabis under the pilot programme. There are no specialist restrictions, though prescription rates remain moderate due to clinical conservatism and product cost.
Approved Indications:
- Painful spasms from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Neuropathic pain associated with chronic neurological conditions
Reimbursement:
- Terminally ill patients: Full reimbursement.
- Non-terminal patients: 50% reimbursement up to DKK 20,000 per year (~€2,700). Any costs exceeding this limit must be paid entirely by the patient.
The reimbursement model has helped maintain affordability for high-need patients while limiting overprescription.
Products & Prices
The Danish market currently features a limited but structured portfolio of flowers and extracts available under the pilot programme.
Flower Products (5 total)
- All sourced from Bedrocan (Netherlands).
- Distributed domestically by CannGros or Scanleaf.
- Price range: €8.09 – €22.21 per gram, depending on THC/CBD ratio and formulation.
Extract Products (6 total)
- Supplied by Stenocare, Scanleaf, and Balancial.
- Includes CBD-dominant, THC-dominant, and balanced extracts.
- Price range: €80 – €270 per 30 ml unit.
The extract segment has grown steadily as Danish manufacturers prioritise pharmaceutical formulations for both domestic and export markets.
Imports & Exports
Imports:
- All five authorised flower products are imported from the Netherlands.
- Extracts originate from Canada (4), New Zealand (1), and Denmark (1).
Exports:
Denmark has become a leading exporter of EU-GMP-certified cannabis products.
- Germany: 7+ tonnes in 2024 (largest destination).
- Australia: 1.7 tonnes in 2023, with continued growth.
- United Kingdom: 85 kg in 2023 → 243 kg in 2024.
The combination of reliable regulatory oversight, quality control, and favourable climate for controlled cultivation has positioned Denmark as a key global supplier of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.
Domestic Production
As of March 2025, Denmark has a diverse and mature cultivation base, with 17 licensed operators across primary and intermediate product categories.
Bulk & Primary Product Licence Holders (2025):
- Idun Medica A/S – valid until 30 June 2025
- Little Green Pharma Denmark ApS – 10 February 2025
- Movianto Nordic ApS – 18 December 2024
- Schroll Medical ApS – 19 March 2025
- Sterigenics Denmark A/S – 10 January 2023
- Tetra Pharm Technologies ApS – 8 July 2025
- Valcon Medical A/S – 20 September 2024
- Valeos Pharma A/S – 19 June 2025
- Vertical Denmark ApS – 27 May 2024
Intermediate Product Manufacturers:
- Balancial Danmark ApS (licence valid 1 April 2022 – 31 December 2025)
These companies collectively form the backbone of Denmark’s export-driven production ecosystem, supplying high-quality medical cannabis to international partners and ensuring continuous domestic availability.
Outlook
Denmark’s decision to make its medical cannabis pilot permanent marks a transition from experimentation to long-term industry stability. With a growing export profile and strong regulatory foundations, the country is set to remain a European leader in production and pharmaceutical supply.
Future growth will depend on continued investment in innovation, product diversification, and clinical integration, particularly as the government formalises the permanent framework post-2025.
Denmark exemplifies a mature, compliant, and export-oriented model for medical cannabis—one that continues to influence regulatory design across the European Union.
