Poland’s newly formed Center Club has presented a bill to decriminalize possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis for personal use, sparking debate in the Sejm.
Center Club Introduces Legislative Initiative
The Center Club was formed by lawmakers who left Poland 2050 in February to establish their own parliamentary group. The group is led by Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska. On Friday, the club presented its first legislative initiative.
15 Grams or One Plant: The Proposal
The Center Club’s proposal seeks to eliminate penalties for possessing small amounts (up to 15 grams) of cannabis for personal use. “15 grams, one plant, and no penalty – the current law is inadequate and disproportionate,” stated MP Aleksandra Leo during a Sejm session on Friday.
Leo noted that current restrictive laws disproportionately affect young people and cost hundreds of millions of zlotys annually to enforce. She argued that these funds could be better allocated to prevention programs.
MP Ewa Szymanowska added that the club aims to create laws that simplify people’s lives rather than focusing on prohibitions and penalties.
Broad Parliamentary Support Sought
The proposed solutions stem from the work of the Parliamentary Group for the Depenalization of Cannabis, which also includes representatives from Civic Coalition (KO), The Left (Lewica), Poland 2050, and Confederation. MP Ryszard Petru expressed hope for cross-party support for the bill.
Kwiatkowski: Current Regulations Are Sufficient
Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, a former Minister of Justice who previously softened anti-drug laws in 2011, expressed skepticism. He believes the current regulations are adequate, citing the existing provision allowing police, prosecutors, or courts to forgo punishment for small amounts intended for personal use.
Kwiatkowski argued that this existing flexibility provides a reasonable approach, allowing for case-by-case consideration. He warned that further liberalization could be exploited by criminals.
He suggested a scenario where a drug dealer could possess the permissible amount and avoid prosecution even if apprehended.
Historical Context of Cannabis Laws in Poland
Poland previously had similar regulations to those proposed by the Center Club. The 1997 Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction allowed possession of small amounts of narcotics or psychotropic substances for personal use. These provisions were tightened in 2000 and then relaxed during the PO-PSL government eleven years later. Medical cannabis has been legal since 2017.
