In a significant development, Poland’s Parliamentary Committee on Petitions has taken a bold step towards potentially reforming the country’s cannabis laws. The committee, after considering a petition seeking the decriminalization of cannabis, has decided to send a formal request to Prime Minister Donald Tusk for his official response on the matter. This decision marks a turning point in the ongoing debate surrounding cannabis legalization in Poland, a country where recreational use remains illegal despite growing public support for reform.
While many anticipated the petition’s rejection, the committee’s decision to issue a formal request to the prime minister signifies a shift in the political landscape surrounding cannabis. This decision is likely influenced by the growing pressure from social organizations and members of parliament who advocate for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis.
Interestingly, the ruling coalition has so far refrained from explicitly supporting either legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. However, the recent petition and the growing public sentiment surrounding cannabis reform might push Prime Minister Tusk to adopt a more positive stance on the issue.
Public opinion polls reveal that 73.4% of Poles support the decriminalization of cannabis, according to the Polish Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS). This widespread support suggests a potential shift in the country’s perception of cannabis and its associated policies.
The initiative seeking decriminalization, authored by Przemysław Zawadzki and the Wolne Konopie organization, proposes a two-pronged approach. It calls for the decriminalization of possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis and the legalization of cultivating one plant for personal use. This proposal aims to alleviate the burden on law enforcement by removing criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Wolne Konopie emphasizes that cannabis criminalization unfairly marginalizes around three million people who use cannabis in Poland. Additionally, nearly 10% of all criminal offenses in the country are related to possession of small amounts of marijuana, further highlighting the potential impact of decriminalization on the criminal justice system.
While the recent developments appear promising for cannabis reform advocates, there are still challenges ahead. The potential veto from President Andrzej Duda casts a shadow over the future of this bill.
However, the recent developments in both the medicinal and recreational cannabis landscape are indicative of a growing acceptance of cannabis use.
Alongside the discussions surrounding cannabis decriminalization, Poland has also introduced new regulations concerning medical marijuana. In a move that tightened access to medical marijuana, the Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna signed a new regulation on October 29th, 2023, regarding narcotics and psychotropic substances.
This regulation significantly tightened the rules for obtaining medical marijuana prescriptions, particularly by eliminating the option of obtaining prescriptions via telemedicine consultations. Only public facilities are now authorized to issue remote prescriptions, while private clinics are no longer permitted to prescribe medical marijuana remotely.
These changes require individuals seeking medical marijuana prescriptions to physically visit a doctor for their initial prescription. This adjustment is intended to enhance the control and regulation of medical cannabis use in the country.
These developments in Poland’s cannabis policy demonstrate a dynamic landscape where social and political forces are shaping the future of cannabis use. As the debate unfolds, the potential impact of these changes on the country’s legal framework and public perception of cannabis will continue to be closely observed.
