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Poland’s Path to Cannabis: Two Companies Meeting Market Demands

Nov. 27, 2024 by SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals

Poland is the fastest-growing new cannabis market in the entire global medical space. Not only is the extracts market growing at more than 30% CAGR, but the country’s recent increase in importation limits further reinforces the expected market growth potential.

Most cannabis companies overlook Poland because of the difficulties in registering products at a more onerous level than in other high-growth countries like Germany. However, two companies, Cosma and SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, are changing the face of cannabis in Poland together.

The Polish Medical Market Has Both Potential and Hurdles

Poland recently doubled its legal import limits from 5 tonnes of cannabis flower to 11 tonnes in 2024. This increase implies that Poland — an almost 200-million-euro market in 2023, according to official figures from Poland’s Centrum e-Zdrowia (e-Health Centre) — can, at minimum, double the dispersal volume in 2025.

Poland has a rule that import licenses can be held back if certain targets have not been reached, though that has yet to happen. Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber estimates suggest an increase in patients to 300,000 annually by 2026.

With only 30 approved products and 70 applications in the works, most registrations seem to be from German distributors. German entrance is interesting because Polish regulations have much higher standards than those in the German markets. Mismatched standards are only one issue of many; another is that the documentation required is for market authorization-level quality. Almost no German companies have ever been subjected to such extensive documentation reserved for pharmaceutical drugs rather than simple magistral prep.

Although Poland employs magistral prep, a single application process can usually take two to three years to go through. Polish regulatory authorities at the Ministry of Health are also eyeing the practice of multiple strains being registered under one common license, not separate ones. Additionally, what’s even more difficult is that some cultivators are pulling out because of genetics that seemingly weren’t preserved by tissue culture.

Easily hurdling Polish medical cannabis market obstacles, Cosma and SOMAÍ are forging forward with an aggressive plan to bring a full array of extracts plus indoor flower, with over 45 product applications in the works to better serve Polish patients.

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Brings Global Expertise to Poland

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals is well known globally for the most extensive extract portfolio in international cannabis markets. With over 100 stabilized EU-GMP extract products, Polish doctors and patients will have a complete array of therapies to prescribe with SOMAÍ’s help. With the recent purchase of their indoor cultivation facility, NovaSoma, SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals improved their offerings to include low microbial levels, earning them non-irradiated status.

SOMAÍ also grows the world’s largest cannabis brand, Cookies, and offers a wide variety of strains for the global markets. SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals’ level of extracts has market authorization-level documentation, so regulators approve of their pharmaceutical approach. Finally, the selection of flower cultivars caters to various patient experiences.

Cosma SA Centers Quality, Education and Innovation

Cosma S.A. fully complies with the stringent standards of the pharmaceutical distribution market, ensuring reliability and excellence in every product. The company adheres to the golden standard of pharmacy care by maintaining high quality and investing significantly in the education of medical professionals. This proactive approach includes providing extensive training and resources and highlighting the crucial role of cannabinoids in preserving human health.

Cosma’s commitment to education and quality care sets it apart, making it an ideal partner for international stakeholders looking for robust and reliable market entry. For potential stakeholders, Cosma’s dedication to advancing medical knowledge and patient care, combined with its strategic investments, promises substantial growth and innovation within the thriving Polish cannabis market.

Cosma and SOMAÍ’s Combined Impact on Polish Cannabis Care

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals and Cosma have a common desire to service patients with cannabis and cannabinoids. Both have intricate plant knowledge and the know-how to navigate complex entry into Poland’s exceptionally discerning market. Additionally, both have made significant investments in the cannabis space and will continue to do so with clinical medical trials to set them apart from the rest. Polish patients will benefit greatly from this union, and the future will bring a product array that will dominate doctors’ prescription pads.