Denmark Revises Medical Cannabis Prices Following Errors

Denmark is set to review its licensing fees for medical cannabis after identifying errors in the regulations implemented in early 2026.

The proposed changes, which are now the subject of a public consultation, would aim to reinstate two missing fee categories, update the fees applicable to businesses in the cannabis sector, and establish the procedures for reimbursing businesses that have paid excessive fees.

Denmark Seeks to Correct Errors in Medical Cannabis Regulations

The proposed amendment addresses the shortcomings in the rate structure that took effect on January 1, 2026. According to the ministry, two administrative categories were inadvertently omitted from the existing regulations. These categories pertain to companies involved in the production of medical cannabis without engaging in farming activities. The missing categories are as follows:

• Code 7012: Application for a manufacturing license without cultivation activities.
• Code 7013: Annual fee for a manufacturing license without a cultivation license.

Their omission created a gap in the legal framework governing the collection of fees from certain cannabis growers and manufacturers.

The ministry also acknowledged another pricing anomaly. Although the current regulations were introduced in 2026, the fees were expressed in 2022 price levels, rather than reflecting the values for 2026. The new decree aims to correct these two issues while updating the amounts to price levels in 2027.

Proposed Increase in License Fees and Reimbursements

The reform provides for a Increase in fees imposed on medical cannabis businesses in Denmark. Applications for manufacturing authorization would thus increase from 17,400 to 19,500 euros, while annual fees would increase by approximately 12%.

The text also reintroduces two categories of licenses that were omitted from the previous regulations, with fees of 18,800 euros for an application for a manufacturing authorization without cultivation and approximately 6,250 euros per year.

These fees, which fund the operation of the’Danish Medicines Agency, apply only to businesses and have no direct impact on the cost of treatment for patients.

In addition to revising the fee schedule, the ministry acknowledged that certain payments collected in 2026 lacked an adequate legal basis. The authorities therefore announced that Companies that had to pay excessive fees in 2026 will receive refunds corresponding to the amounts unduly collected.

The ministry did not specify the number of companies affected, the total amount to be refunded, or the timeline for processing the refunds.

Prescriptions for medical cannabis surge by 64 % in Denmark

These regulatory adjustments come at a time when against the backdrop of a sharp increase in medical cannabis use in Denmark. According to figures published by the Danish Medicines Agency and previously reported by Newsweed, the country recorded 22,410 medical cannabis prescriptions in 2025, compared to 13,665 in 2024—a 64 % increase.

The number of patients also increased by 54 %, rising from 1,605 to 2,465 during the same period.

Despite this growth, only three reports of suspected adverse effects were submitted in 2025, prompting the agency to warn of possible underreporting.

The Denmark's medical cannabis program is now permanent, these latest figures illustrate the growing scale of a sector whose regulatory and financial framework continues to evolve. The proposed adjustments to license fees, however, relate to administrative costs for companies rather than patients’ access to treatment.

Public consultation open through November 29

The proposed changes come at a time when the medical cannabis industry in Denmark continues to operate within a framework that has evolved from an experimental program into a permanent regulatory system.

The ministry has launched a Public consultation through November 29, 2026, at noon Danish time, allowing stakeholders to submit their comments before the regulation is finalized.

If adopted, the revised ministerial decision is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027.