Tag: czechia

This week the Constitutional Court in Czechia ruled in favor of a cannabis magazine and its director, asserting in its ruling that a prior decision by a lower court to convict the journalist and his media outlet violated the country’s free speech laws.

In October 2021, Robert Veverka, a journalist and director of the Czech-based cannabis magazine Legalizace, was targeted over his journalism, with officials accusing him of “inciting and promoting toxicomania.” Legalizace is a bimonthly periodical focused on cannabis and drug policy relating to human rights and environmental issues.

Veverka and his media outlet would later be convicted. Following two court hearings, the district court in Bruntál sentenced Veverka to one year in prison contingent on a two-and-a-half-year probationary period and fined him 50,000 CZK, and after an appeal, the Regional Court in Ostrava upheld the decision, albeit reducing the fine. An appeal to the Highest Court also resulted in an upheld decision.

“The judge mentioned that he is not competent to assess the benefits of the current legislation, the benefits of cannabis products in healthcare, or the negative effects of cannabis use, but that he must base his verdict on the existing legislation which is binding for all. He stated that according to his judgement, Legalizace magazine evidently and factually constituted the criminal offence of inciting and promoting toxicomania.” Veverka stated at the time of the November 2021 verdict in a press release.

“He did not take into account the legislative provisions allowing for cannabis to be handled legally in certain cases or the comprehensive and educational nature of the information published in the magazine. On the contrary, the judge expressed his doubts as to whether the individuals who granted interviews to the magazine were made aware of its content and overall message. Personally, I consider the verdict to be very biased and severely restrictive of the freedom of expression, the right to express political opinion, and the right to information,” Veverka also stated.

As first reported on LinkedIn by fellow Czech journalist and cannabis advocate Lukas Hurt, Robert Veverka later appealed the lower courts’ decisions, and the Czech Republic’s Constitutional Court overturned the lower court’s ruling.

“We didn’t expect much from the Constitutional Court, but Robert had to try – for freedom of speech and for the freedom of our plant. To everyone’s surprise, yesterday, the Court issued a landmark ruling.” Lukas Hurt stated in his social media post.

“Without open and free debate – even on controversial issues such as substance abuse – democracy cannot function effectively…The dissemination of information related to the issue of cannabis use, including criticism of current legal status, is a contribution to the social debate on issues of public interest.” the Constitutional Court stated in its landmark ruling.

Cannabis advocates in Czechia are urging lawmakers to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies. More information about their proposal can be found at: www.racionalniregulace.cz

Starting on April 1, 2025, general practitioners (GPs) in the Czech Republic will be authorized to prescribe medical cannabis to suffering patients. The policy change is a result of a new decree from the nation’s Ministry of Health.

“The decree allows GPs to prescribe medicinal cannabis for chronic, intractable pain,” Ministry spokesperson Ondřej Jakob said according to local reporting by Prague Morning (translated from Czech to English).

Medical cannabis was first legalized in Czechia in 2013, however, only specialists can currently prescribe it resulting in roughly 8,000 patients receiving legal access.

“If GPs can prescribe opiates such as morphine, it is logical they should also be allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis,” stated Petr Šonka, Chairman of the Association of GPs of the Czech Republic according to Prague Morning.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Ukraine and France, and published by the U.S. National Institute of Health, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.

Per the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), nearly 30% of Czech adults have consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetimes and 11.1% report having consumed cannabis within the last year. The average rate for once-a-year consumption across Europe is 8% according to EMCDDA data.

The Czech Republic’s cabinet recently approved a plan that would permit adults in the European nation to cultivate multiple plants in their private residences and possess a personal amount of cannabis.

The plan, which would legalize the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants and set a maximum possession limit of 50 grams of cannabis, was originally introduced by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Justice back in September 2024.

In October 2022, an expert study was commissioned by the Czech Republic Pirate Party and it found that a taxed and regulated cannabis industry would generate “tax revenue from EUR 26.5 million to EUR 73 million per year.”

The Czech Republic’s cabinet recently approved a plan that would permit adults in the European nation to cultivate multiple plants in their private residences and possess a personal amount of cannabis.

The plan, which would legalize the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants and set a maximum possession limit of 50 grams of cannabis, was originally introduced by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Justice back in September 2024. The plan does not go far enough according to members of the Czech Pirate Party.

“Instead of legalization and money in the budget, today the government presents pasquil. You can grow cannabis, but you can’t harvest it. To be able to grow three cannabis plants and at the same time have a limit of 50 grams that you can have at home is absurd. It’s like you could raise three hens, but they could lay a maximum of one egg, otherwise you’ll be fined or go to jail,” said former Deputy Prime Minister and former head of the Pirates Ivan Bartoš according to local reporting by Echo24.

Personal cannabis possession without intent to distribute was first decriminalized in the Czech Republic in 2010 and medical cannabis was legalized in 2013. Adult-use cannabis reform in the Czech Republic is part of an increasing trend in Europe where multiple countries have now adopted legalization measures to boost public health strategies.

What is being proposed in Czechia is similar to what was implemented in Germany earlier this year from cultivation plant limit and possession limit standpoints, however, the proposed legal age of 21 years old would differ from what Germany adopted and is similar to what is in place in two dozens states in the U.S.

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Czech government “believes it will manage to push through the changes by the end of its term in October 2025” per local reporting by TVP World.

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), nearly 30% of Czech adults have consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetimes and 11.1% report having consumed cannabis within the last year. The average rate for once-a-year consumption across Europe is 8% according to EMCDDA data.

The Ministry of Justice in the Czech Republic is proposing that adults should be able to cultivate up to three plants in their private residences, in addition to possessing up to 25 grams when away from their residences and up to 50 grams in their homes.

“According to the draft of the new criminal regulations, which the ministry sent to the government for consideration, people over the age of 21 could grow cannabis for their own use.” Novinsky stated in its local reporting (translated from Czech to English).

“In this regard, the proposal reevaluates the question of what actions should be criminal at all, and liberalizes today’s regulation, where some of the actions today are considered criminal offenses and then legalizes some actions completely,” the ministry said in its preliminary report.

What is being proposed in Czechia is similar to what was implemented in Germany earlier this year from cultivation plant limit and possession limit standpoints, however, the proposed legal age of 21 years old differs from what Germany adopted and is similar to what is in place in two dozens states in the U.S.

In addition to the ministry’s proposal to legalize adult-use cultivation and possession, the ministry also wants to change Czechia’s laws to set a threshold of five cannabis plants, 100 grams of ‘dry matter when a person has it at home,’ or 50 grams when it is outside their home, as the difference between a lower offense and a crime.

The ministry’s proposal does not appear to include regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials or cultivation associations, at least at this time. Cultivation associations are part of Germany and Malta’s legalization models, and Germany is pursuing the launch of pilot trials. Pilot trails are already operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

In July 2024, the International Cannabis Business Conference was provided a leaked document by local activists in Czechia of a policy modernization plan that included regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials and cultivation associations.

“The current prohibition leads to the fact that there are more than a thousand people convicted of cannabis crimes in prisons, which burdens the state budget with costs of over CZK 700 million per year,” emphasized Tomáš Vymazal, a member of the Rational Regulation (RARE) board and chairman of the Safe Cannabis Association, in a press release provided to the International Cannabis Business Conference in July.

The Registered Association Rational Regulation (RARE) was established at the beginning of 2024 with the aim of supporting rational cannabis regulation in the Czech Republic based on scientific knowledge and the best foreign experience. Its founders are the Czech industry cluster CzechHemp, the Legalizace.cz association, and the Safe Cannabis Association, which ‘brings together producers, distributors, and consumers of hemp extracts and hemp products.’

“The new legislation would lead to a significant decrease in the number of persons prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned for possession and cultivation of cannabis, which would result in annual savings of up to 1.2 billion CZK.” Vymazal stated at the time.

A limiting factor in all legalized European nations, which will also presumably prove to be the case in Czechia to some extent, is current European Union agreements. EU policies limit the level of adult-use cannabis commerce that can be conducted within its member nations to cultivation associations and research pilot trials.

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), nearly 30% of Czech adults have consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetimes and 11.1% report having consumed cannabis within the last year. The average rate for once-a-year consumption across Europe is 8% according to EMCDDA data.

Europe’s cannabis movement is gaining momentum, and one of the best examples of that can be found in Czechia where a recently leaked document is providing insight into the adult-use legalization model that is being pursued there.

Ever since Germany announced its plans to pursue adult-use legalization, international cannabis policy observers have kept a close eye on the Czech Republic where leaders expressed a strong desire to follow Germany’s lead.

According to the leaked document that recently surfaced, which was provided to the International Cannabis Business Conference by local activists, what is being reportedly pursued in Czechia is a combination of home cultivation, cultivation associations, and ‘a regulated cannabis market.’

Personal cannabis possession and home cultivation are currently legal in multiple European nations – Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany. Cultivation associations are also currently permitted in Malta and Germany.

“The current prohibition leads to the fact that there are more than a thousand people convicted of cannabis crimes in prisons, which burdens the state budget with costs of over CZK 700 million per year,” emphasized Tomáš Vymazal, a member of the Rational Regulation (RARE) board and chairman of the Safe Cannabis Association, in a press release provided to the International Cannabis Business Conference.

The Registered Association Rational Regulation (RARE) was established at the beginning of 2024 with the aim of supporting rational cannabis regulation in the Czech Republic based on scientific knowledge and the best foreign experience. Its founders are the Czech industry cluster CzechHemp, the Legalizace.cz association, and the Safe Cannabis Association, which ‘brings together producers, distributors, and consumers of hemp extracts and hemp products.’

“The new legislation would lead to a significant decrease in the number of persons prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned for possession and cultivation of cannabis, which would result in annual savings of up to 1.2 billion CZK.” Vymazal stated.

The leaked document surfaced as cannabis advocates inside and outside of the Czech Republic continue to grapple with the news that Czech Republic National Anti-Drug Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil is resigning from his position. Vobořil has served as a top advocate for modernizing Czechia’s cannabis policies and regulations.

“We consider the departure of Jindřich Vobořil, a key expert on addictions, to be unfortunate and risky, especially considering the fact that his position in the negotiation of a comprehensive drug policy reform will change, because from the position of the national anti-drug coordinator, he could solve the issue not only professionally, but also cross-party, which is now endangered,” said the chairman of the RARE association, Robert Veverka.

A limiting factor in all legalized European nations, which will also presumably prove to be the case in Czechia to some extent, is current European Union agreements. EU policies limit the level of adult-use cannabis commerce that can be conducted within its member nations to cultivation associations and research pilot trials.

With that being said, if cultivation associations and pilot programs proliferate in Czechia, and adults can cultivate their own cannabis, the end result would effectively be widespread legalization, similar to what is expected in Germany. Regional cannabis pilot trials are already operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland with no reported issues, and are expected to launch in Germany by the end of this year.

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), nearly 30% of Czech adults have consumed cannabis at least once in their lifetimes and 11.1% report having consumed cannabis within the last year. The average rate for once-a-year consumption across Europe is 8% according to EMCDDA data.

A cannabis reform win in Czechia will add further momentum for overall European reform efforts, which will, in turn, build momentum for global reform efforts. People around the world can support cannabis reform efforts in Czechia by making a donation to the Responsible Reform organization. More information, including how to donate, can be found on the organization’s website.

Earlier this week, Czech Republic National Anti-Drug Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil announced that he had submitted an intent to resign from his position. Local media reported that the resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Petr Fiala and that the resignation would become effective “at the end of August.”

Jindřich Vobořil has served as a top cannabis policy modernization advocate in the Czech Republic in recent years. In October 2022, Vobořil publicly applauded German lawmakers’ push for adult-use legalization in their country after German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach held a press conference announcing provisions of Germany’s proposed legalization model.

Per Radio Prague International at the time:

If national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil’s proposed plan comes into effect in 2024 as he hopes, Czechia could become the second EU country to legalise the recreational use of cannabis. And not only that – it would even go a step further, also making its sale legal. The anti-drug coordinator presented his plan for combatting addiction – which includes the proposal to legalise cannabis – at a press conference this week.

“At the moment, there is a political consensus for me to create this proposal for the regulation of cannabis, a substance which is illegal at the moment. We want to regulate it with the help of the market and we believe that this regulation will be more effective than the current ban.”

“Germany and the Czech Republic go to a regulated market at the same time.” Jindřich Vobořil stated on his Facebook page the same day Minister Lauterbach made his formal presentation in Germany.

“Today, Germany announced through the mouth of its Minister of Health that it is launching the legislative process. It won’t be quite the free market, as some would expect. For example, colleagues from Germany talk about the allowed amount, they do not have cannabis clubs that we are supposed to. I’m pretty sure I want to hold on to cannabis clubs until my last breath. I find this model very useful, at least for the first years.” Vobořil went on to state in his post.

“However, we are in live contact with our colleagues from Germany and have repeatedly confirmed that we want to coordinate ourselves, even practically by consulting each other on our proposals. I will also want their expert assessment of our proposals, which we will prepare in the above mentioned working expert group.” Vobořil also stated in his Facebook post.

According to domestic reporting in the Czech Republic, Vobořil may have been forced to resign due to his push for a regulated cannabis industry.

“His departure was pushed, for example, by the ruling People’s Party and the head of the ANO opposition movement, Andrej Babiš. Vobořil (1966) worked as an anti-drug coordinator from 2010 to 2018. He returned to his post in February 2022.” stated ČTK in its original coverage (translated from Czech to English).

Despite the announced resignation, Vobořil is expected to stay very active in advocating for cannabis policy modernization efforts in the European nation, and the country’s cannabis movement remains strong, with leaked documents reportedly indicating that some domestic lawmakers are still pushing for a regulated cannabis industry.

“The fight to end cannabis prohibition in #Czechia did not end yesterday—quite the contrary!” stated Lukas Hurt, publisher of Magazine Konopí and Cannabis Therapy Magazine, manager of CzecHemp, in a post on LinkedIn. “I am saying to all of you again: with the departure of Jindřich Voboril as national drug coordinator, nothing is over here, on the contrary – everything is at stake now and the implications could be huge for the whole European cannabis movement.”

A country that should be on your global cannabis legalization radar, if it is not already, is the Czech Republic. As we previously reported, Czechia’s top drug policy expert indicated that his country would follow Germany’s lead on adult-use reform, and this last week demonstrated that to some degree.

On Wednesday ministers from Germany’s government held a press conference in which they presented a two-faceted legalization plan, with the first involving the legalization of possession, home cultivation, and noncommercial cannabis clubs. The second facet will involve the rollout of adult-use cannabis commerce pilot programs.

The following day news broke in the Czech Republic about the nation’s own plans to pass an adult-use legalization measure, which will differ from Germany in some regards. Per Expats CZ:

With the symbolic “420” celebration just a week away, cannabis smokers in Czechia may have a new reason to smile. Czechia plans to introduce a new, regulated cannabis market allowing people to consume up to 5 grams of cannabis recreationally per day, and legalize the growth and distribution of the drug.

Seznam Zprávy reports that under the government’s new plans, consumers would need to register in a database, and growers and sellers would need to pay annual fees. According to the state’s anti-drug policy coordinator Jindřich Vobořil and the Pirate Party, which is part of the current coalition, the proposal could earn the government around CZK 2 billion per year.

Consumers being required to register in a government database under the Czech Republic’s reported plan is somewhat unique for a national legalization model, however, it’s not an unheard of concept in general. For contextual purposes, consider that the adult-use cannabis pilot program operating in Basel, Switzerland right now also requires registration.

According to Expats‘ reporting, “Growing hemp on larger plots of land would cost hundreds of thousands of crowns, and an independent shop that wants to sell cannabis would need to pay a once-yearly free, starting at about CZK 50,000.”

As part of its reporting, Expats conducted an online poll regarding adult-use cannabis reform in the Czech Republic, and as of this article’s posting 92% of survey respondents answered ‘yes’ to the question, “Do you agree with the government’s plans to regulate the recreational cannabis market?”