Poland Tightens Medical Cannabis Rules: Safer Treatment but Harder Access

Until recently, a completed online survey was enough to get a prescription for medical cannabis in Poland. However, new regulations have changed everything. Since November 7th, 2024, doctors are required to personally examine the patient before writing a prescription for this type of therapy.

This is a revolution that has changed the landscape of cannabis treatment in Poland. Have patients lost out on this solution, or maybe the safety of the therapy has gained? In this article, we examine what the new regulations mean for patients, doctors, and the medical cannabis market.

What are “Recipe Machines” and why are they controversial in Poland?

Prescription machines are online systems that allow for issuing prescriptions without a personal examination of the patient, most often based only on a completed medical questionnaire. Their activity, although legal in some forms, raises a lot of controversy. The main problems associated with them are:

Risk of abuse: Failure to verify a patient’s health status may lead to the inappropriate use of psychoactive substances.

Illegal drug trafficking: Prescriptions issued by prescription machines may be used to illegally obtain medications.

Lack of regulation: Although they operate within the framework of permissible forms of medical activity, they are not officially registered, which makes it difficult to control their activities.

How has the medical cannabis market in Poland changed since the introduction of restrictions?

As of November 7th, 2024, new regulations are in force in Poland, according to which a doctor must personally examine a patient before issuing a prescription for medical cannabis. The only exception are primary care physicians (PHCs) operating during standard working hours.

Impact of new regulations on the market:

Significant drop in the number of prescriptions: According to data from the e-Health Center published on the RynekZdrowia.pl website, the number of prescriptions for medical cannabis issued by prescription machines has decreased from 25,000 to 3,000 per month.

Better control over therapy: Personal examination of the patient before issuing a prescription allows for more effective monitoring of treatment effects.

Why is personal patient examination so important in cannabis therapy?

An in-person consultation allows the doctor to thoroughly assess the patient’s health, which minimizes the risk of side effects. Previously, patients taking strong medications such as opioids, sleep medications, or anti-anxiety medications could easily obtain a prescription for medical cannabis without proper supervision. Medical cannabis can interact with these substances, increasing the risk of side effects such as excessive sedation, respiratory distress, or circulatory problems.

Medical cannabis differs in its cannabinoid and terpene profile. Direct contact with the patient allows for a personalized approach to treatment, taking into account possible interactions with other medications and individual therapeutic needs.

The new regulations limit the possibilities of illegally obtaining cannabis-based medicines and reduce the risk of inappropriately combining them with powerful substances, which could lead to serious health complications.

Summary

The new regulations governing the operation of prescription machines are a significant step towards safer and more effective medical cannabis treatment in Poland.

Although the changes introduced may make access to therapy more difficult, they provide a higher level of safety and better control over the quality of treatment. Cannabis clinics, such as kliniki-konopne.pl , remain a key element in conducting effective cannabis therapy, offering patients professional diagnostics and an individual approach to treatment.

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(Featured image by Budding via Unsplash)

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First published in FaktyKonopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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