Poland

Poland has strict laws prohibiting the use of psychedelics, with all major psychedelic substances classified as illegal. However, there is a growing movement advocating for the reform of these laws to enable the use of psychedelics in medical research and therapeutic settings. The Polish Psychedelic Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Psychodeliczne) was established in 2019 by the Polish Drug Policy Network with the primary goal of decriminalizing psychedelics and facilitating their use in science and medicine. The society brings together experts from various fields, including activists, scientists, healthcare professionals, and legal experts, to support scientific research on psychedelics and promote public education on their potential benefits and risks.

Ongoing Clinical Trials

Despite the legal challenges, Poland has witnessed a few groundbreaking clinical trials involving psychedelic substances. In late 2023, a Phase IIa trial on 5-MeO-DMT (BPL-003) was initiated by Beckley Psytech and WorldWide Clinical Trials, marking a historic milestone as the country’s first clinical study administering a Schedule I psychedelic substance to patients.

The trial is being conducted at Centrum Badań Klinicznych PI-House in Gdansk, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Hanna Badzio-Jagiello and psychotherapist team leader Dr. Grzegorz Kuczynski. Clinical Trial Director Khrystyna Grygoryshyn and Clinical Research Manager Bogumila Jagiello played crucial roles in commencing the trial and administering the investigational product to several patients.

Research Initiatives

In addition to clinical trials, Polish researchers are actively exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics through various research initiatives. Some notable projects include:

1. Dr. Urszula Kozłowska’s study on the potential of DMT and psilocybin in inducing neurogenesis and slowing neurodegeneration, funded by two grants.
2. Prof. Gołembiowska’s team’s research on the mechanisms of psilocybin and ketamine’s fast-acting antidepressant effects, using rodent models of depression.
3. Grzegorz Kazek’s interdisciplinary study at the Jagiellonian University Medical College, assessing the sustained effects of psychedelic use.

While psychedelic research in Poland is still in its early stages, these initiatives demonstrate a growing interest and commitment to exploring the therapeutic potential of these substances through rigorous scientific investigation.