81% of Poles Support Medical Cannabis, but Only 4% Have Been Offered It by a Doctor | Research

The takeaway

Seven years after legalizing medical cannabis, 81% of Polish adults support it and 84% would try it if recommended, but only 4.2% have received a physician recommendation.

health policy researchers, medical cannabis program administrators, medical educators

What the researchers found

81.1% of respondents supported medical cannabis legalization and 84.3% expressed willingness to undergo treatment if medically indicated. However, only 4.2% reported receiving a physician recommendation. Confidence in physician knowledge (29.9%) and patient knowledge (16.1%) was low. Chronic pain (49.8%) and oncological conditions (57.4%) were the most recognized indications.

Why it matters

Poland's experience illustrates a common pattern: legalizing medical cannabis does not automatically translate to clinical adoption. The gap between public willingness and physician recommendation highlights systemic barriers in medical education and practice guidelines.

The numbers in context

1,113 adults surveyed. 81.1% support legalization. 84.3% willing to try if recommended. 4.2% received physician recommendation. 29.9% confident in physician knowledge. 16.1% confident in patient knowledge. 57.4% recognized oncology indications. 49.8% recognized chronic pain.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey conducted July 2025 using computer-assisted web interviewing on a nationally representative sample of 1,113 Polish adults aged 18-84. Multivariable logistic regression identified sociodemographic predictors of key attitudes.

What this study cannot tell us

Online survey may underrepresent older adults and rural populations despite nationally representative sampling. Self-reported attitudes may not reflect behavior. Cross-sectional design captures one timepoint. Social desirability bias possible on sensitive topics.

How to read the evidence

Nationally representative survey with validated methodology, but cross-sectional design and self-report limitations place evidence at moderate.

When this study was published

Survey conducted July 2025, seven years after Polish legalization.

The bigger picture

This pattern of high public support but low clinical implementation is seen across many countries that have legalized medical cannabis. Education for healthcare providers and evidence-based clinical guidelines appear to be the primary bottlenecks.

Questions still open

What specific barriers prevent Polish physicians from recommending medical cannabis?
Would physician education programs increase recommendation rates?

Common questions

Why don't more Polish doctors recommend medical cannabis?

The study found low confidence in both physician and patient knowledge about medical cannabis, suggesting education gaps are a major barrier. Only 29.9% of respondents believed doctors are well-informed.

What conditions do people think medical cannabis helps with?

The most commonly recognized indications were cancer-related conditions (57.4%) and chronic pain (49.8%).

Read the original research

Public understanding of medical cannabis in Poland 7 years after legalization: findings from a cross-sectional study.

Frontiers in public health, 13, 1686709

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Silczuk, Andrzej; Jankowski, Mateusz; Mularczyk-Tomczewska, Paulina; Olearczyk, Agata; Baran, Tomasz; Wrześniewska-Wal, Iwona; Lewandowska, Aleksandra; Łoś, Magdalena. (2025). Public understanding of medical cannabis in Poland 7 years after legalization: findings from a cross-sectional study.. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1686709. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1686709