Cannabis
Poland And Cannabis – The Fresh Toast
A traditionally conservative country, what is Poland’s take on marijuana?
Poland has been a conservative country. The Catholic Church has been deeply ingrained in Polish culture and identity for centuries. But there is a change stirring, about 70% of population identified as Catholic in the 2021 census, down from 87% a decade earlier. The Church played a significant role in the transition from communism and dictatorship to democracy. It has been in the news recently, so where is Poland and cannabis? While the country has some of Europe’s most restrictive drug laws, recent developments in medical marijuana policy have created a unique situation.
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Cannabis for recreational use remains illegal in Poland. Possession, consumption, and trafficking of cannabis with more than 0.2% THC content is a criminal offense. However, since 2011, prosecutors have had the option to drop charges for possession of small quantities intended for personal use, especially for first-time offenders.
In July 2018, Poland legalized medical cannabis, with the law taking effect in November of that year. This change allowed physicians to prescribe cannabis under the same conditions as other controlled substances
The Polish cannabis market has shown significant growth potential. It quadrupled from in 2021 and is expected to more than double by 2026. As of 2021, over 2.3 million people in Poland consumed cannabis, both legally and illegally, with illicit users accounting for more than 60% of all consumers.
However, the medical cannabis system faces several challenges:
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Reliance on imports: Polish law prohibits domestic production of medical cannabis, making the country entirely dependent on imports.
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Insurance coverage: Medical cannabis treatment is not covered by health insurance, leading to high costs for patients.
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Supply issues: Lingering registration and supply audit procedures can cause shortages.
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Limited availability: Medical cannabis is usually only available in pharmacies by special order.
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Despite the restrictive laws, there has been a notable increase in cannabis prescriptions. The number of prescriptions issued for medical marijuana in Poland increased sixfold recently, along with a rise in prescriptions for opioid medications.