Introduction Of Cannabis Decriminalization Measure Expected In Poland
Medical cannabis policy modernization has spread across the European continent in recent decades, with most European nations now being home to some level of medical cannabis legalization, including medical cannabis commerce.
In more recent years, adult-use cannabis policy modernization efforts have picked up steam on the European continent. Malta became the first European nation to adopt a national adult-use legalization measure in 2021, followed by Luxembourg in 2023 and Germany in 2024.
Lawmakers in the Czech Republic also approved a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure earlier this month, although the historic law doesn’t take effect until January 1, 2026. Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are underway in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Another European country that is pushing for adult-use cannabis policy reform is Poland, where national lawmakers are expected to introduce a measure in September that would decriminalize personal cannabis activity by adults.
“A parliamentary bill on the decriminalization of marijuana will be submitted to the Sejm in September, RMF FM journalist Kacper Wróblewski has learned. Discussions are underway within parliamentary caucuses and efforts are underway to secure a majority to support the legislation, which is already in place, according to members of the parliamentary team responsible for drafting the bill.” reported RMF24 in its original reporting (translated from Polish to English).
“The draft is ready. Individual, minor issues may still emerge in the negotiations between coalition partners and clubs. For example, the permissible amount of dried herb or cannabis. The regulations will be released soon, says Civic Coalition MP Marcin Józefaciuk, a member of the parliamentary group for marijuana decriminalization.” the outlet also stated.
What constitutes cannabis legalization versus decriminalization differs in Europe compared to the United States. Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to adopt cannabis decriminalization in 1973, removing criminal penalties for personal cannabis possession of up to one ounce. Personal possession still resulted in a $1,000 fine in Oregon at the time. Oregon would later completely legalize cannabis possession in 2014, removing the fine.
Compare that to measures adopted in Europe, which are often described as ‘decriminalization.’ The removal of any penalty for adults possessing a personal amount of cannabis, such as what has now been adopted in multiple European countries, would technically be considered legalization in the United States. It demonstrates that there is some subjectivity in how adult-use cannabis policy modernization is categorized on both sides of the Atlantic.
Regardless of how the measure that is expected to be introduced in Poland in September is described, if it is approved, it will be a welcome change for the nation’s cannabis consumers, including medical patients who are having to navigate shifting regulations for obtaining medical cannabis patient approval.
At its peak in 2024, Poland’s approved medical cannabis patient base was roughly 90,000. However, changes in telemedicine regulations resulted in the patient numbers falling to about 33,000 by the end of the year, although they have since rebounded a bit in 2025.
