Despite the growth of the Polish medical cannabis market, it remains extremely small
In Ukraine, varieties of technical hemp with a therapeutic orientation have been registered and since 2021 are being launched into mass production, which have a huge therapeutic effect without presenting absolutely no social danger to the population. Just by regulating the possibility of using flowers and leaves of the above mentioned varieties for industrial purposes, the economy of our country will not only receive an export-oriented modern industry of production, but will also provide Ukrainian patients / consumers with the opportunity to use the therapeutic properties of the plant at the lowest possible price.
Despite the fact that the market for medical cannabis in Poland is expanding, it remains extremely small in comparison with those in the EU or North America. In particular, according to the data of the Main Pharmaceutical Inspectorate in 2018, only 4 kilograms of medical hemp flowers were imported to Poland. In 2019, the figure indicated above increased to 66 kilograms, and the data obtained before August 2020 indicate that 167 kilograms of therapeutically active "green mass of the plant" have already been imported into the country.
Polish imports of medical hemp flowers
It should be emphasized that the exponential growth of “new” markets for medical cannabis is traditional and lasts an average of two to three years. According to a number of analysts, the main restrictions for the further expansion of the Polish medical cannabis market are the limited supply and the lack of insurance compensation for the cost of products sold in this segment.
The registration process for hemp-based pharmaceuticals is quite complex, as evidenced by the fact that only two Canadian companies have managed to obtain regulatory approval in Poland for the sale of their varieties. Taking into account the fact that the cultivation of therapeutically active hemp for its medical use is not regulated by regulatory documents, it is the number of imported flowers that is an indicator of market development. It should also be borne in mind that Poland imported a certain amount of medical hemp for re-export, including in March 2020 (58 kg), in July (25 kg).
Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
In Poland, there are six registered varieties of medical cannabis imported by two Canadian companies - “Canopy Growth” (2 varieties), “Aurora Cannabis” (4 varieties). In addition, Polish patients can access medical hemp flowers imported from Holland. Retail prices may vary, but usually medical hemp flowers cost PLN 650-700 ($ 179-193) for a 10 gram pack. At the moment, the cost of medical cannabis in Poland is not reimbursed by the country's health system.
It is a pan-European trend that only Canadian and Dutch companies are the first to “enter” new markets for medicinal cannabis, either in the form of pharmaceuticals or flower / extract supplies. The next stage of the main suppliers of the above-mentioned products is to block the entry into the market of national companies that are trying to replace imported raw materials / drugs through constant litigation, lasting a significant amount of time. A striking example of this kind of manipulation on the part of a pool of Canadian and Dutch exporters is the situation in Germany, in which, despite the presence of national suppliers of therapeutically active cannabis flowers, their market entry is blocked by a wave of lawsuits. The lack of national raw materials in Germany predetermines the inflated cost of imported flowers or hemp-based preparations. A similar situation can already be observed in Poland.
Unlike the aforementioned countries, in Ukraine, varieties of technical hemp of a therapeutic orientation have been registered and have been mass-produced since 2021, which have a huge therapeutic effect without presenting absolutely no social danger to the population. Just by regulating the possibility of using flowers and leaves of the above mentioned varieties for industrial purposes, the economy of our country will not only receive an export-oriented modern industry of production, but will also provide Ukrainian patients / consumers with the opportunity to use the therapeutic properties of the plant at the lowest possible price.