Cannabis and cannabinoids in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic: The Think Tank for Rational Addiction Policies and the Association of  Providers of Addiction Services oppose adding HHC to the international banned substances list. A decision on the inclusion is expected to be made during the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2025, media reports. Czech experts argue that such inclusion would go against modern rational regulation.

Czech Republic: Even though law 321/2024 to regulate the manufacture, marketing and sale of “psychomodulating substances” is in force as of 1st January 2025, the Ministry of Health has delayed the adoption of the implementing regulation to the law, media reports. A draft government regulation with a list of these psychomodulating substances was published at the end of 2024 and, reportedly, if adopted, would only be in place from July 2025. According to the explanatory memorandum to the draft governmental regulation, the four newly included substances are kratom, kratom extract, cannabis up to 1% THC, and cannabis extract and tincture up to 1% THC, and they meet the conditions specified in the law because, based on current scientific knowledge, they do not pose a serious risk to public health or a risk of serious social impacts on individuals or society. The cannabinoid HHC and some of its derivatives are not specifically mentioned on the upcoming list, but it says that cannabis up to 1% THC and cannabis extract and tincture up to 1% THC may contain the substance hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in its natural form at a concentration of less than 0.3%. In addition, the temporary provisions of the government regulation to add HHC, hexahydrocannabinol-O-acetate (HHC-acetate, HHC-O) and tetrahydrocannabiforol (THCP) to the list of addictive substances expired on 1st January 2025, and, reportedly, a legal vacuum has been created, as the Ministry of Health said after the temporary prohibition that these substances should be included in the list of psychomodulating substances, but they are not specifically in the current draft of the government regulation.

Czech Republic: The proposed amendment to the Criminal Code to decriminalise growing cannabis for personal use has passed its first reading in the Chamber of Deputies, media reports. Due to some criticism in the parliament, changes to the current version could be expected for the next reading. In November 2024, the Drug Policy Department of the Office of the Government told CannIntelligence that the scope of the proposed amendment is limited to cultivating up to three plants and possessing up to 25 g of dry cannabis in public and 50 g at home, both for personal use.

Czech Republic: The Ministry of Health has proposed a new decree aiming to simplify the prescription process for medical cannabis, allowing it to be prescribed by general practitioners, media reports. The decree has successfully passed the comment process and is set to take effect on 1st April 2025. Currently, only specialists are allowed to prescribe medical cannabis.

Czech Republic: Commenting on the proposal for a regulated cannabis market, the Drug Policy Department of the Office of the Government has told CannIntelligence that “there was no official decision of the Czech government made towards the proposed cannabis market regulation”, which means that “the discussion on the governmental level was abandoned”. Currently, the only proposed bill concerning cannabis regulation is one on decriminalisation, the scope of which is limited to cultivating up to three plants and possessing up to 25 g in public and 50 g at home, both for personal use, and which is currently under consideration in Parliament.

Czech Republic: Last week, president Petr Pavel signed the proposal to regulate hemp extracts with HHC and with a THC content of up to 1%, among other psychoactive substances. The proposal would restrict sales, prohibit advertising, and introduce registration requirements for such substances. This law will take effect on the first day of the second calendar month following its publication.

Czech Republic: The Senate has passed the proposal to regulate hemp extracts with HHC and with a THC content of up to 1%, among other psychoactive substances, media reports. The proposal would restrict sales, prohibit advertising, and introduce registration requirements for such substances. It will now need to be signed by the president.

Czech Republic: The Ministry of Justice has sent the government a proposed amendment to the criminal legal framework that aims to partially legalise the cultivation of cannabis for personal use by adults over 21, media reports. The proposed changes include allowing the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants, with the boundary between a misdemeanour and a criminal offence set at five plants. It would also be legal to store up to 50 g of dry cannabis at home and 25 g outside the home. The proposal also includes changes in penalties for drug offences.

Czech Republic: The Je to OK! campaign, created by experts led by former national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil, seeks to promote the benefits of a regulated cannabis market, media reports. Among other things, the campaign focuses on safeguarding patients’ access to medical cannabis, decriminalisation, and protecting children.

Czech Republic: According to Lukas Hurt, general manager of the Czech Hemp Cluster (CzecHemp), the Ministry of Health has stated that the European Commission does not have any concerns about the proposed regulation of psychomodulating substances. A bill to regulate psychomodulating substances, such as HHC and cannabis extracts with up to 1% THC, is pending in the parliament (awaiting the discussion in the Senate).

Czech Republic: The governing coalition is close to agreeing on specific wording of the cannabis legislation, and while there was initially a plan to open a regulated cannabis market, it seems that the current consensus is only on decriminalising self-cultivation and expanding access to cannabis for medical purposes, media reports. This means the original proposal could be scaled back.