Inside SOMAÍ: How premium cannabis-based medicines are made

Behind the scenes at SOMAÍ: Lisbon’s world-class cannabis facility

The facility itself is in a secure location, away from the busy city of Lisbon. When we arrived, we were greeted by their vigilant but lovely security team and were taken off to get suited and booted in protective gear to make sure we weren’t bringing in any contaminants into the manufacturing space. 

SOMAÍ take great pride in their hygiene, constantly making sure that the whole area is spotless from top to bottom, honestly, there’s not a speck of dust in sight! That’s the way it should be, of course, but this place is nothing short of pristine. 

Each product is made within its own room at the facility, which ensures attention to detail for each and every one of their products is at the highest possible level. As we went throughout the facility, I noted how the technology and machinery wasn’t only extremely sophisticated, it was tailored to each specific product, be it their oils, vape cartridges, soft-gel capsules, chewable pastilles -  the list goes on. 

We also had the pleasure of viewing some of their new and unique medicines. One that stood out to me, personally, was their ‘fast-acting range’. These new varieties of oils, capsules, and pastilles are designed to take effect a lot faster than the original versions of these products - perfect for patients that require rapid symptom relief from things like pain or spasming.

Extracting excellence: SOMAÍ’s medical cannabis extraction process

During the tour, I was really intrigued by SOMAÍ’s extraction process, which they seem to have down to a T, and I loved learning about the machinery involved, which are capable of extracting specific cannabinoids and terpenes at exact temperatures. With terpenes in particular, they are removed using heat at the beginning of the oil production process and reintroduced at a later stage - which is key to preserving them so that they aren’t damaged along the way.

They then extract cannabinoids from the plant material using a -40°C cryo ethanol system, as well as using advanced purification machines to remove all unwanted fats and lipids (as these contain no medicinal value). After this is done, the terpenes are then added back into the solution to create a highly rich medicine.

SOMAI only use single-source full flower to extract from when they make their cannabis oils, using as much plant material as possible. They select specific genetics depending on the oil's intended effects, and then only ever use that specific cultivar when creating that specific oil, to ensure maximum consistency throughout each batch.

This means that patients can be assured that each time they are prescribed a SOMAÍ product, they aren’t getting something different each time. And to strengthen consistency even further, I got to see their quality control procedures first-hand, where every single batch of every single product was carefully reviewed before it’s released into the market, each with a 12 month shelf-life.  

Bridging borders: From production facility to patient’s hands

Once their oils have been delicately and thoroughly checked and then passed by their quality control department, they are packaged and accompanied by the relevant documentation to be exported to another country. 

When they’ve been given the green light and to maintain the integrity of the product, the shipments are kept within carefully controlled conditions throughout their journey, using compliant and secure transport partners. 

So for example, when an advanced order is placed with SOMAÍ for Releaf patients here in the UK, they immediately apply for an import licence with the UK Home Office and an export licence with the Portuguese authorities. Once approved, the oils are imported through regulated channels and stored securely in the UK before dispensing. 

At Releaf, SOMAI products are dispensed by the highly qualified pharmacy team as soon as they receive the prescription, and it's delivered straight to patients' doors in discreet packaging, using tracked, secure delivery services. We stay in regular contact on stock matters, and place orders consistently throughout the year, to ensure patients can access their medication as and when they need it. 

Final thoughts: Releaf and SOMAÍ

It’s obvious that SOMAÍ care deeply about patient needs and the quality of their products, and I had the pleasure of witnessing this first-hand. One of the things that particularly stood out to me was their range of cultivar specific oils, that each have a specific profile with unique combinations, and concentrations, of terpenes. 

Personally, I think this is a great idea, as particular cultivars of the cannabis plant can affect patients and their conditions in different ways. With strain-specific or cultivar-specific products, patients can treat their conditions more effectively, rather than using a product that's been designed to meet a broad range of needs, and hoping it adequately fits theirs. 

The SOMAÍ team are repeatedly taking on patient feedback and acting accordingly to ensure their products are working effectively for patients’ conditions, and they’re actively taking part in trials with their products, which puts the stamp on consistent quality.

With all of this in mind, I am very excited to see the future of the Releaf and SOMAÍ partnership as it develops further, and I’m confident that together we can provide consistent, high-quality medicines to those that can really benefit from them. Our values definitely align, and that was evident when I visited in person. 

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