Status: 07.09.2022 06:38 a.m
The Czech Republic is relatively permissive when it comes to cannabis: “a quantity no larger than small” is tolerated. A comprehensive legalization is discussed – especially the co-governing Pirate Party is in favor.
Ondra and his friends know exactly where to buy their next joint, and they also have a clear opinion: Marijuana should be completely legalized, says the 16-year-old, who prefers not to see his name published, on a sunny evening in a park in Prague – even if taxes made it more expensive: “The less of that stuff there is on the black market, the more hard drug sales would go down.”
Cannabis is less addictive than cigarettes or alcohol and less aggressive. And in view of Corona and war, a joint is better than antidepressants. Ondra himself started smoking weed at the age of 14; in his age group, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of youth have experience with the drug, he says. According to the United Nations Organization to Combat Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cannabis is much more widespread in the Czech Republic than in Germany, for example.
Ondra (16, on the right in the picture) with friends in the Riegerpark above Prague’s main train station.
Image: Barbora Sramkova
“Rubber paragraph” regulates consumption
The Czech Republic decriminalized the use of cannabis in 2010. “A quantity not larger than small” was permitted – whereby paragraph 284 in the penal code has repeatedly caused discussions. Originally, the courts understood this to mean 15 grams of marijuana and five hemp plants for personal use. In view of the increased THC content, the limit is now ten grams.
Up to this amount, possession and cultivation of cannabis is only an administrative offense that can be followed by a fine. Everything about it as well as the sale will be prosecuted. So the Czech Republic is not a second Holland in East-Central Europe.
Nevertheless, more hemp products may be sold than in Germany. At the beginning of the year, the permitted THC content was increased to one percent. This is well above the German limit of 0.2 percent – which can lead to problems when returning from the Czech Republic with holiday gifts such as hemp beer, cannabis oil or lucky capsules.
Between boom and gray area
Since then, weed shops have been flourishing, especially in the capital city of Prague. More and more new shops are filling the gaps in the cityscape left by the corona pandemic – with some closing again after a short time.
23-year-old Alexandra Abramova from Ukraine has been selling at the Hempo shop near Karlsplatz for two months. She started smoking marijuana when she was 13. Ever since she’s been in the business, she’s preferred the synthetic HHC. It’s less psychoactive and easier to dose, she says.
She serves half tourists, half Czechs – although tourists tend to try things out and Czechs know exactly what they are looking for, she says. Neither Abramowa nor other stores will answer questions about where their products come from or who controls the THC content. Nevertheless, she does not see a need to relax further.
A sign in Prague’s Old Town.
Image: picture alliance / NurPhoto
discussion about legalization
There have always been initiatives in the Czech Republic for a full legalization of cannabis. Most recently, the Pirate Party failed with an initiative in parliament last year. The pirates have been part of the governing coalition since December. They presented their new approach at a round table at the end of August: comprehensive regulation based on the models in Canada and the USA.
They are supported in this by the national drug commissioner Jindrich Voboril: According to him, a strictly regulated market offers more possibilities for prevention and control than the current approach. He hopes to have more influence, especially when it comes to the manufacture and sale of cannabis products.
View of Germany
In contrast, the National Anti-Drug Center of the police thinks little of a change in the law. Director Jakub Frydrych refers to current sanction options. In addition, the Czech Republic is one of the most liberal countries in the Schengen area when it comes to handling small quantities.
In the medium term, however, the prospects for cannabis legalization are not so bad: the Pirate Party is the most liberal and also the smallest government partner. However, according to the drug commissioner, he has already spoken to the conservative head of government Petr Fiala. Both agree that the Czech Republic must react to the liberalization plans in its large neighboring country Germany: According to Voboril, there are around 100 domestic companies that could export cannabis.