Home Regulation
Cannabis laws in the Czech Republic

Cannabis laws in the Czech Republic

Table of contents

Medical: legal
Recreational: decriminalized 

Cannabis is medically legal in the Czech Republic and has been since 2013. The country has progressive views on cannabis and first decriminalized small possession amounts back in the 1990s. This code was updated in 2009, and possession of 15 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis resin, and five plants is subject to a minor fine. Full recreational legalization is on the horizon in 2023. 

Weed in the Czech Republic 

While cannabis is not recreationally legal in the Czech Republic, the country has some of the most progressive cannabis laws in Europe. Possession of small amounts of drugs, including up to 10 grams of cannabis was decriminalized in the 1990s. These rules were updated in 2009, and possession of 15 grams of flower, five grams of resin, and growing five plants was decriminalized and is subject to a fine. 

Cannabis is considered easy to find in major cities – the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addictions ranks Czechia as the number one cannabis-consuming country. The country hosts several cannabis events, including Cannafest in Prague, Konopex in Ostrava,  and the Million Marihuana March.  Though the plant is usually tolerated, police can and do still search people smoking in public. 

However, full legalization may be on the horizon. After Germany announced plans to legalize the plant, Czechia followed suit, with the first draft of legislation expected early in the 2023 session and tentative legalization in 2024

Possible penalties

Decriminalization is not the same as legalization, and there are still penalties for being caught with cannabis – a €500 fine rather than a criminal charge. Some reports state that 20,000 citizens are fined each year for small possession amounts. 

Possession of large amounts of flower or product can carry a jail sentence of up to a year. Trafficking and selling are still criminal offenses, carrying between 2 – 18 years in jail. There are alternative punishments available for small operations and first-time offenders. 

Medical marijuana in the Czech Republic 

Medical marijuana was legalized in the Czech Republic in 2013. Product is sold to people with prescriptions at pharmacies and patients can possess up to 180 grams of “dry matter” per month. Home grow is not allowed. 

Most of the cannabis for the medical program is imported, which raises the cost for patients. Domestic cultivation is allowed, but there are not many companies with a license to do so. Insurance typically doesn’t cover cannabis, so the program is generally considered for the wealthy. 

Qualifying conditions include: 

  • HIV
  • Cancer
  • Multiple sclerosis 
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Chronic inconsolable pain or nausea due to a chronic condition 

CBD regulations

CBD is legal in Czechia. Industrial hemp is legal with up to 1% THC. 

As a member of the EU, the Czech Republic is beholden to the 2020 EU Court ruling that determined CBD and its products were not narcotics, so “a country of the European Union cannot prohibit the marketing of cannabidiol legally produced in another member state.”

Can you grow your own weed?

No, home grow is not legal in the Czech Republic. Small-scale hemp cultivation is legal for consumers, while businesses must have a license. Growing cannabis for medical purposes also requires a license from the State Institute for Drug Control. 

Visiting Czechia  – can you buy or bring marijuana products?

There are a multitude of places to buy cannabis in Czechia, both legally and illegally. Hemp plants can contain up to 1% THC, and products are for sale throughout the country, but most heavily in large cities. Visitors to Prague and other large cities can typically find stronger cannabis quite easily – just look for shops with a neon green leaf in the window. However, these products are illegal and come from the black market, so exercise caution. 

Do not bring cannabis products into Czechia, as crossing international borders with illegal substances is considered trafficking. 

Thanks for your feedback!

Sign up for bi-weekly updates, packed full of cannabis education, recipes, and tips. Your inbox will love it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *