Poland Eyes CBD Ban as its as it's Medical cannabis crackdown on Prescription see prescription numbers plummet
NOTE: Poland & Czech have allowed Hemp CBD products to thrive. It's actually a very good thing they are tightening down on these bi-products of Hemp. USA is doing similar. Decline in prescriptions of medical cannabis will change with tax reduction. Washington state just recently removed 37% tax on Medical Cannabis. It all takes time but It's a growing Industry.
January 22, 2025
Poland has seen the number of medical cannabis prescriptions plummet since it moved to crack down on telemedicine prescriptions.
Telemedicine has been a major driver of growth in Poland, the UK and Germany, but increasing concerns around the ease of access and use for non-medical purposes have made this a contentious and highly politicised issue.
With conversations around similar action taking place in both Germany and the UK, Poland may represent the first domino to fall in a Europe-wide crackdown on this growth driver.
Meanwhile, the Polish government is signalling further crackdowns as it proposes a bill which would classify non-intoxicating hemp and CBD as a narcotic.
What happened? As discussed in Prohibition Partners’ upcoming Global Cannabis Report: 5th Edition, Poland’s medical cannabis industry has flourished in recent years, seeing prescription numbers surge from 11,400 in 2020 to 313,000 in 2023.
The latest data from the e-Health Centre, Poland’s official registry, shows that the market also experienced significant growth during 2023 compared to 2022, seeing consumption volume increase from 800 kilograms to 2,600 kilograms, while the number of patients grew from 36,000 to 90,000. Sales also surged, rising from €15m to €42m.
In August, Poland’s Ministry of Health stepped in, citing concerns over non-medical use following this dramatic expansion.
New regulations were proposed that would mean private clinics can no longer offer remote consultations for cannabis prescriptions, and national health physicians could only provide remote consultations and prescriptions for patients who have previously had an in-person consultation.
Despite being unpopular with the public, these restrictions were implemented in November, 2024.
A recent survey suggested that 81.3% of patients obtained their first prescription via private cannabis clinics online, while only 6.4% visited National Health Fund doctors in person. Notably, 56.9% of patients learnt about cannabis therapy online, while just 15.5% were informed by their doctor.
Two months on, and its becoming clear that these measures have significantly impacted the growth of the market, seeing prescription numbers plummet from 68,000 in October to 42,000 in November, and further to 28,000 in December 2024.
Founder of Polish cannabis business and strategy advisory firm Cannabis Partners, Arek Kuich, told Business of Cannabis: “Regarding prescriptions, medical marijuana sales in pharmacies may have decreased by as much as 50% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“Some lawyers argue that the Minister of Health’s decision was contrary to the law. As a result, certain online clinics have continued their operations despite the risks, exposing themselves to potential restrictions.
“Meanwhile, some Polish Marketing Authorization Holders (MAHs) are lobbying against the decision, believing it may eventually be withdrawn.”
Will CBD really be banned? The Polish Ministry of Health has draughted an amendment to the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction, which aims to prohibit the sale and advertising of hemp products intended for smoking or inhalation.
This includes products containing CBD (Cannabidiol) that are designed for smoking or vaping. The Ministry justifies this move by claiming that using cannabis or cannabis-based products can lead to intoxication and addiction with repeated use.
In the case of hemp with a THC content of less than 0.3%, the threshold for a cannabis plant to be classified as industrial hemp, this is patently untrue.
Not all hemp products will be affected by this proposed change. CBD oils, as long as they are not intended for smoking or inhalation, are exempt from the prohibition. Other hemp products used for purposes such as textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, energy, food, and more will also remain unaffected.
However, businesses that primarily offer hemp products for vaporisation or smoking, such as some CBD shops, may be forced to cease these operations or adapt to the new regulations.
The proposed amendment is currently in the draft stage and must pass through several hurdles before becoming law. These include review by parliamentary committees, a vote in the plenary chamber, approval by the Senate, and finally, the president’s desk.
Given the ongoing presidential campaign and coalition quarrels within the government, the fate of the proposal is uncertain.
Mr Kuich explained: “As for CBD being classified as a narcotic, it’s difficult to say. Sometimes the government ‘floats a trial balloon’ to gauge public reaction.
“Another issue is that CBD is classified as a novel food across the EU, not as a narcotic.
“In Poland, we’re awaiting the presidential election in May. Personally, I don’t think any major legal changes will come into force in the first half of the year, as it could reduce voter support for the governing party’s candidate.”