The Czech Republic has put forward a draft of a bill that would create a regulated legal market and allow individuals to purchase up to five grams of cannabis per day for recreational purposes.
Under the planned regulations, those who wish to consume cannabis recreationally would be required to register in a database and those who wish to grow or sell cannabis would have to pay annual fees. The Czech cabinet first heard draft plans for a regulated adult-use cannabis market last year and national anti-drug policy coordinator Jind?ich Vobo?il said the proposed legal cannabis market could bring in billions of crowns in tax-related revenue. Vobo?il said the aim of the proposed regulations will increase customer protection and ensure cannabis products being consumed are indeed safe. He said an estimated one million people used illegal cannabis last year.
“We propose taxing cannabis and collecting funds for licensing. We are counting on a significant income for the state budget. At the same time, I hope that we will subsequently agree with the government on some allocation of funds for prevention,” Vobo?il said.
Possession of small amounts of cannabis has been decriminalized in the Czech Republic since 2010 and it has been legalized and regulated for medical use since 2013, yet using it for recreational purposes still remains technically illegal. Possession of up to ten grams of cannabis or the growing of cannabis plants is punishable by a fine of €500 ($495) with around 20,000 people fined each year.
A 2022 survey showed most Czech citizens believe current restrictions and regulations regarding the possession and growing of cannabis should be less strict, with two-thirds of respondents believing possessing and growing cannabis should not be a crime, and 76 percent supporting regulated hemp sales to adults. The authors of the study said the supporters of the less strict regulations were voters of the government parties (the Pirates and SPOLU), younger people, and people with higher education.
“Czech legislation is not keeping pace with the current development in society. We believe that MPs will hear the opinion of a majority of Czech citizens and vote in support of the planned legislative changes,” said Charter 420 spokesman Jakub Hussar. The survey was conducted by Behavio on behalf of the Charter 420 civic initiative.
Proposed cannabis legalization has been sweeping Europe as countries like Germany are on track to change their own laws and regulations regarding cannabis. Germany presented scaled-back legalization plans after discussions with the European Commission that will allow adults to grow up to three cannabis plants at home and allow members of “cannabis clubs” of up to 500 members to purchase cannabis for recreational use. Possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis would be legal, but there would be a ban on advertising cannabis, a cap on THC content for those under 21, and limits to consumption in designated areas.
The Swiss government has also announced plans to legalize cannabis on a trial basis for residents in Zurich. Beginning this summer, a group of 2,100 Zurich residents will be allowed to purchase cannabis for personal use from pharmacies, special dispensaries and social clubs across the city. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Zurich, the trial aims to determine how legal cannabis would work in Switzerland with results being published on a rolling basis starting next year. Participants in the study will be tasked with answering a questionnaire every six months regarding their consumption habits and any health effects from the study.
“The idea is to get robust real world evidence that serves policymaking for new [national] regulation on cannabis,” said Barbara Burri, project manager at Zurich’s municipal health department.
