Citizens in the Czech Republic will soon be permitted to grow pot plants at their place of residence and reflect upon their lives in clinical settings after ingesting magic mushrooms.
Lawmakers in the lower house of the European country agreed to overhaul cannabis and psychedelics laws last week as part of extensive drug reforms being implemented. They are aimed at relaxing penalties for minor offences and reducing strain on the domestic prison system.
The amendments still need to be approved by the Senate, but dissent is not expected there or at President Petr Pavel’s desk thereafter.
“We achieved a historic victory in the lower house of parliament,” said Czech Safe Cannabis Association Chairman Tom Vymazal.
Czech weed enthusiasts will be allowed to cultivate up to three plants, possess up to 100 grams of flower at home and keep 25 grams on them in public starting in 2026. Cannabis has been decriminalized in the country for the past 15 years, but citizens were only authorized to have up to 15 grams. Nonetheless, dispensaries will not be popping up throughout Czechia anytime soon.
With regard to psilocybin therapy, the mental health impact could be immensely beneficial for locals. Jiří Horáček, head of the nation’s Center for Advanced Brain and Consciousness Studies, says it could provide new hope to thousands suffering from depression and anxiety.
“For therapeutic purposes, an individually prepared medicinal product containing psilocybin for therapeutic use may be prescribed, dispensed and used in accordance with the Act on Addictive Substances in accordance with the implementing legal regulation,” the bill specified.
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News was praised by PAREA
The Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance was quick to voice its excitement about the development. This non-profit aims to assist with the integration of psychoactive therapeutics throughout the continent.
“If confirmed by the Senate, Czechia will join countries like Switzerland, Canada and Australia in leading the way with medical psychedelic use,” the organization said on social media last week.
The move was also positively acknowledged by Mind Medicine Australia — a charity dedicated to providing Aussie residents with psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
“It’s encouraging to see countries like Czech Republic following our lead with a medically supervised, evidence-based approach,” the charitable psychedelics outfit stated.
Survey data has shown that approximately 68 per cent of Czech citizens back medical psychedelic use. Meanwhile, local THC reform advocate Lukas Hurt described the marijuana amendments as “the biggest blow to cannabis prohibition in the last 70 years” even though he feels 100 grams isn’t enough.
He currently publishes a ‘Cannabis Therapy Magazine’ in Prague.
“And to top it off, we have also legalized the medical use of psilocybin mushrooms,” he added.
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