Poland: Legislative reform is lacking for one of Europe’s largest medical cannabis markets

Newly released data show that Poland is home to over 9,261 patients legally accessing medical cannabis, making it one of the largest such populations in Europe.

Currently, legislative work is taking place with respect to six different drafts of amendments to the hemp law, two of which relate to the legalisation of recreational use.

The first of the rejected drafts provided for the general admission of cannabis cultivation with high THC concentration for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in Poland, allowed the reimbursement of cannabis-based medicines for certain indications, and aimed to regulate the legal issue of driving after the use and in an intoxicated state (>5 ng Δ9 THC/ml) of THC.

Currently, there are about twelve research institutes that could carry out such cultivation, and it is likely that the Institute of Natural Fibres and Herb Plants in Poznań would be involved.

‘This is breakthrough news for Polish patients, doctors and pharmacists, as until now they could only use the authorised dried Cannabis flower.

Maciej Konarowski of Can advocare recently obtained data pertaining to the number of medical cannabis patients obtaining prescriptions in Poland, and the quantities of medical cannabis being used.

According to official data, the Main Pharmaceutical Inspector issued a permit for importing 1,380,309 g of the dried product into Poland, though it is unclear how much of this was actually imported by the licensed distributors.

The above figures do not take into account Q4 – where a months-long supply drought in Poland was relieved by the delivery of 140kg of dried flower, which was introduced by Aurora and bought up in just two days.

Cannabis remains illegal in most countries so please reference your local laws in relation to medical or recreational use.

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