Driving after drugs in Poland (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Driving after using drugs is an offence and police can test drivers for them by saliva swab in a road check. No numeric THC limit is set in the texts read. Penalties run from arrest or a fine of at least PLN 2,500 to up to 3 years in prison.

RuleWhat applies
Approach to cannabis (THC)Driving a car after drug useAny use is an offence [1]
THC thresholdDriving a car after drug useNo numeric limit is set in the Road Traffic Act or in the Health Minister's regulation. The regulation lists tetrahydrocannabinols among the substances tested for presence; the blood laboratory quantification limit for delta-9-THC is 1 ng/ml. [1]
Prescribed medicinesDriving a car after drug use⚠ Not yet verified
Police screening testDriving a car after drug useYes [2]
Main sanctionsDriving a car after drug useDriving under the influence of an intoxicating substance is a crime: imprisonment of up to 3 years, with a driving ban of at least 3 years. Driving after use of a similarly acting substance is a petty offence: arrest or a fine of at least PLN 2,500, with a driving ban. [3]

Notes

  • The Penal Code refers to being 'under the influence of an intoxicating substance' and the Code of Petty Offences to 'after use of a similarly acting substance'. The texts read do not set out the boundary between the two for drugs.
  • The substance list and test rules come from the 2014 Health Minister regulation, read in an Internet Archive snapshot of 4 April 2025. Later amendments or replacement were not checked.
  • The articles read contain no exemption for medicines and say nothing on prescribed drugs, so no value is given.

Sources

  1. Kancelaria Sejmu (Internet Service of Legal Acts, ISAP): Rozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia z dnia 16 lipca 2014 r. w sprawie wykazu środków działających podobnie do alkoholu oraz warunków i sposobu przeprowadzania badań na ich obecność w organizmie (Dz. U. 2014 poz. 948) (Internet Archive snapshot of 4 April 2025) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Kancelaria Sejmu (Internet Service of Legal Acts, ISAP): Ustawa z dnia 20 czerwca 1997 r. Prawo o ruchu drogowym (tekst jednolity, stan na 20 sierpnia 2026) (Internet Archive snapshot of 8 October 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Kancelaria Sejmu (Internet Service of Legal Acts, ISAP): Ustawa z dnia 6 czerwca 1997 r. Kodeks karny (tekst jednolity, stan na 28 sierpnia 2026) (Internet Archive snapshot of 21 October 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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