Contents
Market Overview
Medical cannabis in Sweden remains highly regulated and is only available through a strict individual licence process administered by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket). Access is limited to unregistered cannabis-based products — typically oils or flowers — which may be prescribed only after a specialist physician submits an application on behalf of a patient.
Sweden’s estimated medical cannabis market size for 2025 is projected at €XXX (see Market Sizing Forecasts for full figure), reflecting gradual but steady growth in patient numbers as awareness increases among clinicians.
Despite this, Sweden continues to maintain one of the most conservative medical cannabis frameworks in Europe, with all treatments authorised on a case-by-case basis. The country has no domestic cultivation or manufacturing, relying instead on imports approved under special licence.
A significant development occurred in 2024, when the Karolinska Institute, in collaboration with Curaleaf’s Sapphire Clinics, launched Sweden’s first national observational study into cannabis-based medicine. The study aims to generate real-world data on treatment efficacy and safety — a pivotal step towards building clinical and regulatory acceptance.
Regulatory Framework
Swedish law permits the medical use of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines under Section 5 of the Medicinal Products Act (2015:315). Cannabis remains a narcotic substance under the Narcotic Drugs Control Act, meaning that access is possible only through individual exemptions authorised by the Medical Products Agency (MPA).
Licence Process:
- A specialist doctor submits an application to the MPA on behalf of a patient.
- The doctor must provide comprehensive documentation, including:
- Clinical justification for cannabis-based treatment, and
- Evidence that conventional therapies have failed or caused intolerable side effects.
- If approved, the MPA issues a three-month prescription licence, during which patient outcomes are monitored.
- Should treatment prove beneficial, the doctor may apply for a renewal or annual licence.
This process is highly bureaucratic and can take several weeks. However, licence approvals have increased year-on-year, signalling cautious but measurable regulatory openness to cannabis-based therapies.
Oversight and Licensing:
- Regulatory authority: Läkemedelsverket (Swedish Medical Products Agency)
- Cultivation and manufacturing: Prohibited
- Imports: Allowed via licensed pharmaceutical wholesalers under narcotics-handling authorisations
Patient Access
Who Can Prescribe?
Only specialist physicians can prescribe unregistered cannabis-based medicines under the current framework. General practitioners are not permitted to initiate prescriptions.
Prescribing Criteria:
- Cannabis may only be prescribed if the patient has exhausted all approved therapeutic options.
- The physician must demonstrate that cannabis treatment is clinically justified and expected to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Treatment Evaluation:
- Initial licence: Valid for three months.
- Renewal: Possible for up to one year, contingent on demonstrated patient benefit.
Commonly Treated Conditions:
- Chronic neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain
- Spasticity (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries)
- Nausea or vomiting related to chemotherapy
- Sleep disorders and anxiety linked to chronic illness
Reimbursement:
There is no public reimbursement for medical cannabis treatment in Sweden. Patients must pay out-of-pocket, though certain hospital-based treatments may be subsidised under regional healthcare schemes.
Products & Supply
Product Types:
- Cannabis oils and extracts (most commonly prescribed)
- Dried flower products for vaporisation
Key Suppliers:
- Bedrocan (Netherlands) – leading supplier of imported flower products
- Tilray and Curaleaf – limited availability through licensed importers
- Additional products imported on an ad hoc basis from EU-GMP-certified suppliers in Germany, Denmark, and Canada
Domestic Production:
There is no domestic cultivation or processing of medical cannabis in Sweden. All products are imported through pharmaceutical wholesalers holding narcotics-handling authorisations.
Research and Clinical Development
In 2024, the Karolinska Institute, in partnership with Curaleaf’s Sapphire Clinics, launched a national observational study on cannabis-based medicines. This study aims to:
- Collect longitudinal data on efficacy and side effects,
- Identify real-world treatment patterns, and
- Build an evidence base to inform future national policy and clinical guidelines.
The research initiative marks a notable shift toward scientific engagement with medical cannabis in Sweden, potentially paving the way for more structured regulation and broader patient access in the coming years.
Market Outlook
Sweden’s medical cannabis framework remains limited in scope, with a low but growing number of patient licences issued annually. The system’s clinical conservatism reflects the country’s broader policy stance on narcotics, but the recent increase in research activity suggests gradual evolution.
Market development in the short to medium term will depend on:
- Outcomes from the Karolinska–Curaleaf study,
- Growing clinical acceptance among Swedish physicians, and
- Possible future amendments to allow standardised product authorisations rather than case-by-case licensing.
Sweden is expected to maintain its controlled, research-driven approach to medical cannabis, focusing on pharmaceutical precision and clinical evidence before broader market liberalisation.
