Czech Government Approves Cannabis Decriminalization: 50g Possession, 3 Plants

The Czech government has approved a comprehensive reform of criminal law, which includes a partial relaxation of the regulations on the cultivation and possession of cannabis.

According to the proposal, it will be legal to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants yourself and to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis at home and 25 grams in public places. Growing four to five plants will be treated as a misdemeanor, and more than five plants as a crime.

In historical context, it is worth recalling that the Czech Republic decriminalized possession of cannabis in 2010 and legalized its use for medical purposes in 2013. These moves are part of a broader trend seen in Europe, where countries such as Germany and Malta have already introduced regulations on cannabis use. The government believes it will be able to push through the changes by the end of its term.

The new legal reform approved by the Czech government provides for the following changes:

Legalization of cultivation of up to three cannabis plants containing more than 1% THC
Introduction of quantitative limits:
Maximum 50 g of dried herb at home.
Maximum 25 g of dried herb in public places.
Penalties for exceeding these limits:
Fines for growing four or five plants and possession of 50 to 100 g (home/public).
Up to 6 months in prison for growing more than five plants or possessing more than 100 g.
Reform as an element of broader changes in criminal law
Ultra realistic cannabis leaves arranged on the Czech flag, symbolizing the debate on legalizing cannabis in the country.

The reform of the cannabis law is part of a larger amendment to Czech criminal law. Minister of Justice Pavel Blažek emphasized that the aim is to introduce more modern and effective solutions:

Strengthening alternative penalties, such as fines, instead of imprisonment.
Reducing recidivism and reducing government costs associated with prison overcrowding.
The reform is in line with trends observed in other EU countries.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala considered the changes necessary and crucial for the modernization of the legal system in the Czech Republic. However, the proposed changes were met with criticism from the Pirate Party, which points to the limitations of the amendment.

The 50g limit is too low for the potential yield of three plants, which can provide up to 300g of dried material. Ivan Bartoš, former leader of the Pirates, compared the situation to breeding hens that can only lay one egg. The Pirate Party in the House of Representatives wants to propose a larger amount of cannabis that people could legally possess, up to 900 grams.

Justice Minister Blažek responded to the criticism by emphasizing that the Pirate Party had been involved in the negotiations from the very beginning. He suggested that further adjustments were possible during the legislative process, including increasing the permitted limits on parliamentary sessions.

” Instead of legalization and money in the budget, today the government is proposing pasquil. You can grow cannabis, but you can’t harvest it. The possibility of growing three cannabis plants and at the same time having a limit of 50 grams that you can have at home is absurd. It’s like being able to keep three hens, but they can only lay one egg at most, otherwise you’d face a fine or prison ,” said former deputy prime minister and former head of the Pirates Ivan Bartoš.

Potential economic benefits

Experts from the University of Economics in Prague have estimated that the introduction of a regulated cannabis market could bring significant economic benefits to the Czech Republic:

Annual net profit: Over CZK 5 billion (approx. PLN 1 billion).
Long-term benefits: By 2035, profits could amount to CZK 77.2 billion (approx. PLN 14.5 billion).
Do-it-yourself cultivation: Even without full legalisation of the regulated market, profits from do-it-yourself cultivation could amount to CZK 1.2 billion per year.
The Czech plan is often compared to similar regulations in Germany, which has also introduced limits on the cultivation and possession of cannabis. But it is worth noting the differences. The Czech Republic has a minimum age of legal use of 21, which is in line with regulations in many US states but different from the German approach. Germany, however, has allowed cannabis clubs, where 18- to 21-year-olds can buy cannabis, but only up to 30 grams per month and with a maximum of 10 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Pilot legalisation programmes are also underway in the Netherlands and Switzerland , indicating a growing interest in regulation in Europe.

Statistics of cannabis use in the Czech Republic

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA):

30% of Czech adults have used cannabis at least once in their life.
11.1% of Czechs have used cannabis in the last year, which is significantly higher than the European average of 8%.
These figures show how popular cannabis is in the Czech Republic, which may explain the growing pressure to liberalize regulations.

The approved reform of the cannabis law is a significant step towards the liberalization of the law in the Czech Republic. Although the changes are met with mixed feelings and criticized by the Pirate Party, their economic and social potential cannot be overestimated. The introduced regulations may become a model for other countries in Europe, and further legislative amendments may further improve the system, taking into account the needs of recreational and medical users.

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First published in Fakty Konopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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