How to Start Medical Cannabis Treatment - Step by Step 2026

If you are considering medical cannabis but do not know where to start, this guide walks you through the whole path - from the first question to the first dose. The whole process is simpler than it seems, and legal from start to finish.

Below we have laid it out in six steps. At each one we link to a detailed article if you want to go deeper.

Medical cannabis is not a first-line medicine. Doctors consider it when standard treatment is not enough or is poorly tolerated. The most common indications are chronic pain (especially neuropathic), symptoms in cancer, spasticity, and also sleep disorders or anxiety - after weighing benefit against risk.

You do not need to be certain - that is what the visit is for. If your complaint is chronic and interferes with your life, that is a good reason to talk to a doctor about it.

Not every cannabis clinic guides the patient the same way. It is worth choosing one with transparent pricing, known doctors, genuine qualification (no prescription guaranteed in advance) and the option of follow-up care.

We set out exactly what to look for in our guide on how to choose a cannabis clinic.

You book the visit online, choosing the city, the doctor and the time. Qualification takes place in person - in Poland it requires face-to-face contact with a doctor. We see patients in Krakow, Bydgoszcz, Torun and Kielce.

At the visit the doctor asks about your complaints, previous treatment and current medication, then assesses whether therapy is justified. What to bring is gathered in our article on what to bring to your first visit.

If the doctor considers therapy justified, they issue an RpW e-prescription, valid for 30 days. They also choose the form of the medicine (flower, oil, extract) and the THC to CBD ratio for your problem.

The cost of the visit is one thing and the raw material another - we discuss both in our article on the price of medical cannabis per gram. The therapy is not reimbursed by the national health fund.

With the e-prescription you go to a pharmacy that sells prescription raw materials. It is worth calling ahead to ask about the availability of a specific strain, as stock differs between pharmacies. You can save on the price - we explain how in our article on discounts and cheaper medical cannabis.

You start therapy with a small dose and increase it gradually - the start low, go slow rule. This makes it easier to hit an effective dose with the fewest possible side effects. More in our article on medical cannabis dosing.

After some time you book a follow-up visit. The doctor assesses the effects, adjusts the dose and, if needed, changes the product. That is a normal part of therapy, not a sign that something went wrong.

Where do I start with medical cannabis treatment?

By checking whether your complaint may be an indication, and then with a visit to a cannabis clinic. The doctor assesses the situation and, if therapy is justified, issues an e-prescription. The rest is filling the prescription at a pharmacy and starting therapy carefully.

How long does the whole procedure take?

The visit itself takes around fifteen minutes, and you get the e-prescription straight away if the doctor decides on therapy. Then you fill it at a pharmacy within the 30-day validity of the prescription.

Can I start without an in-person visit?

No. Qualifying for medical cannabis treatment requires an in-person visit with a doctor. This is a legal requirement.

Am I guaranteed to get a prescription?

There is no prescription guaranteed in advance. The doctor first assesses indications and contraindications. A refusal is possible and is a sign of a reliable clinic.

What dose do you start with?

A small one, increased gradually (start low, go slow). This helps find an effective dose with the fewest possible side effects, so it is worth taking the first weeks calmly.