Changes in the Criminal Code: A Small Step in the Right Direction
The House of Deputies of the Czech Republic has just approved several important changes regarding drug policy. While we are still waiting for approval from the Senate and the President’s signature, here is a summary of what has been passed:
Positive changes include:
- Legal possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis at home and 25 grams when on the move
- Permission to grow up to 3 cannabis plants for personal use
- Therapeutic use of psilocybin legalized – a major step for mental health and therapy
- Reduction of criminal liability for cannabis-related behavior – now considered a privileged act rather than a serious offense
We thank everyone who fought for these changes.
However, several key issues were not passed:
- Penalty levels for drug offenses remain unchanged – disproportionate punishments still apply
- Important addictological measures remain illegal – including safe consumption rooms and drug testing at festivals
- An outdated law on the ‘spread of toxic addiction’ remains – obstructing education and harm reduction efforts
- Pilot research projects for legal regulation were blocked – despite successful models in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
This is just the first step. We need broader, systematic change that is unafraid to rethink outdated approaches.
