Leaked Documents: Czech Republic Plans To Set Up Legal Recreational Cannabis Market

The Czech Republic seems to be considering a fully legal commercial adult-use cannabis market as part of its ‘Cannabis Management Act,' according to leaked documents.

The news, reported by Business of Cannabis, follows the resignation of the National Drug Coordinator‘s decision to resign from his position in order to continue to serve on the project in an advisory role. Jindřich Vobořil, tasked by the Czech government to prepare a law that would regulate cannabis, previously completed two separate versions of the measure.

The measure seeks to set up a cannabis market much like Canada’s and certain US states. It has yet to be reviewed internally and by the European Commission.

In January, one of the draft version of the bill made headlines. The Czech Pirates party, which backs cannabis reform, said at that time the draft is a “compromise version” that they intend to negotiate further to include issues such as a pilot testing of a regulated market. That draft bill came some nine months after the Czech Cabinet announced it would addiction problems.

Here's What's In The Cannabis Management Act

Under that draft bill growing cannabis for personal use would be legal. The legislation also seeks to set up a licensing and seed-to-sale tracking system, similar to one underway in Switzerland and to in Germany’s cultivation associations.

"From the point of view of the National Drug Policy Coordinator, this proposal is insufficient and I consider the Cannabis Management Act, which contains three pillars: self-growth, delegation and a regulated cannabis market, to be effective in minimizing the illicit cannabis market," the bill reads.

The bill seeks to decriminalize up to 10 grams of cannabis for personal use or more precisely "cannabis dry matter, cannabis extract and tincture or another form of the processed cannabis plant, in aggregate equivalent to not more than 10 grams of cannabis dry matter containing 10 % of substances of the tetrahydrocannabinol group."

Those seeking to become license holders would have to pay a CZK 2,000 ($86) application fee, directed to the state budget. Only those over 18 would be eligible to hold one of the following three types of licenses:

• Cultivation for personal use
• Registered members of cannabis associations
• Users obtain cannabis in specialized establishments

Why It Matters

Cannabis operators have been ramping up their presence in the Czech Republic in anticipation of these very regulatory changes.

Curaleaf International, part of Curaleaf Holdings Inc. CURLF , which has already established its presence in the European market, announced its expansion in the Czech Republic in March, via a new supply agreement with Astrasana Pharma s.r.o. The collaboration will make Curaleaf International’s EU-GMP flower available to patients via Pilulka Pharmacy, a healthcare provider in the region.

PharmaCielo Ltd. PCLO PCLOF made its first shipment of THC-dominant dried cannabis flower to a customer in the Czech Republic in the EU market in 2022.

Canadian cannabis giant Tilray Brands, Inc. TLRY TLRY announced in 2023 that its medical cannabis division, Tilray Medical, has expanded its European footprint across the Czech Republic through a new export and distribution partnership with Cansativa Group.

In addition, Canopy Growth Corporation’s WEED CGC medical brands currently service European medical markets in the Czech Republic and Poland as well as Asia-Pacific markets, including Australia and New Zealand.

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