Polish parliamentarians petition prime minister to decriminalize cannabis

The Polish Parliamentary Petitions Committee transmitted to the Prime Minister Donald Tusk a petition to decriminalize cannabis.

The petition, presented by the commission, suggests allowing Polish citizens to possess up to 15 grams of cannabis and grow a plant for their personal use without incurring criminal penalties.

Although this proposal does not have the binding force of a formal bill, it does require a response from Donald Tusk within 30 days. He will either have to outline the potential steps for implementing the changes, or justify his decision not to proceed. He may also refer the matter to another agency.

According to Wolne Konopie, a leading Polish advocacy group, the decision to opt for a non-binding petition rather than a formal bill stems from a pragmatic assessment of the Polish political landscape.

Defenders feared that the President Andrzej Duda veto a more formal bill. On the contrary, they hope that the petition will spark a national dialogue that could lead to legislative action, particularly in the context of the Polish presidential election next May. If public reaction is strong, it could influence future political agendas, or even sway the position of presidential candidates.

Support and opposition from Polish officials

In recent months, activists have gained the support of some Polish ministry officials. In September, representatives of Wolne Konopie met with a Ministry of Health official to discuss the petition, which would have received provisional support. In July, a civil servant ministry of the interior has forwarded the reform recommendation for consideration by law enforcement agencies. It remains to be seen, however, to what extent this support resonates with government bodies.

The movement of cannabis reform in Poland is part of a broader trend in Europe, where neighbouring countries are adopting their own policies in terms of’medical or recreational use of cannabis. Poland's proximity to the Ukraine and Germany adds a little interest to this regional reform.

In February, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a signed a law legalizing medical cannabis. This law is remarkable for its potential to help soldiers who are facing physical and psychological trauma due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukraine's move towards medical cannabis has been influenced in part by the unique circumstances of the war, but also aligns with broader European trends of cannabis policy re-evaluation.

Germany, for its part, has authorized social clubs cannabis clubs, which allow adults to grow cannabis for collective use in a private setting. The German model limits access to social clubs, where cannabis is grown and distributed to registered members, but nevertheless creates a controlled environment for recreational cannabis consumption.

The current German law, which represents the first phase of a two-part legalization plan, has already given rise to the first cannabis distributions in social clubs this year. From pilot projects have recently been announced as the basis for a second pillar that would see legal sales of cannabis.