Cannabis in Poland

Possession of most drugs for recreational use, including cannabis, is illegal in Poland. Since 2016 possession and use of medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

Since 2011 prosecutors can arbitrarily drop the charges if certain conditions are met: the amount of drugs seized is of a limited quantity (although no such limit is explicitly stated) and the drugs seized are believed to be for personal consumption only[1]

On 26 May 2011, Poland introduced legislation that would give prosecutors the option to not prosecute for possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use, if it is a first offence, or if the person is drug dependent.[2] The legislation raised the maximum possible penalty for placing a large number of drugs from 10 to 12 years in prison. However, for possession of large quantities of drugs would result up to 10 years in prison (previously up to 8 years).[3]

Cannabis was first explicitly mentioned in Polish legislation of 1997.

In 2010s following growing movement in support of legalizing cannabis for medical use, Poland has moved towards decriminalizing cannabis, with governments discussing several legislation variants, including one proposed by the Kukiz'15 party.[4][5][6][7] It has been accepted for medical use, including being eligible for medical refunds, since 2016.[8]

References

  1. Kancelaria Sejmu RP. "Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych". sejm.gov.pl.
  2. "Poland Approves Drug Decriminalization -- Sort Of". stopthedrugwar.org. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. Drugs in small quantity and for personal use with no punishment – Poland, Interia.pl, 26 May 2011, retrieved 2011-05-29
  4. Kośmiński, Paweł (22 June 2015). "Dorocie kazano pogodzić się ze śmiercią dziecka, Mateusz przez dwa lata nie wychodził z domu. Pomogła marihuana". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  5. "Szef Wolnych Konopi: PiS rozmawia z nami o legalizacji marihuany medycznej". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  6. Polska, Grupa Wirtualna (2016-10-21). "Medyczna marihuana coraz bliżej". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  7. "Ruszyła zbiórka podpisów za legalizacją medycznej marihuany". PolskieRadio.pl. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  8. "Legalizacja marihuany jest prawnie niemożliwa - Służba zdrowia - rp.pl". Retrieved 2016-12-02.


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