Since the first of January 2026 cannabis has been partly legalized in the Czech Republic, located in the center of Europe. Czech adults are since this date allowed to grow up to 3 cannabis plants at home and have up to 100 grams of dried cannabis at home. In public it is allowed to carry up to 25 grams.
Growing three cannabis plants at home now legal in the Czech Republic
President Petr Pavel signed the legislation back on July 17 last year and has since become law on the first day of the new year. De president vouched his support for the legalisation of cannabis already in 2023 during a visit to the Cannafest expo in 2021. The law got a large majority both in the House and the Senate. In the Senate it received 47 votes and 0 against on the third of July.
The reform distinguishes between cannabis possession and more serious drug offenses. Possession of four to five plants is classified as a minor offense, while possession exceeding 200 grams or cultivation of more than five plants remains punishable.
| Status: | Possession Cannabis Home | Possession Cannabis in public |
| Allowed | Up to 100 gr. | Max. of 25gr. |
| Offense | 101 to 200 gr. | 26 to 50 gr. |
| Crime | 201 gr or more | 51 gr. or more |
Cannabis regulations included in new criminal code section
The new legislation contains, for the first time, a separate section on cannabis offenses. This aims to introduce greater proportionality into criminal law.
According to the explanatory notes accompanying the law, the new sentencing guidelines better reflect the societal impact of cannabis use.
It should be noted that it isn’t a separate cannabis law. This was achieved through a significant amendment to the Czech Penal Code (Trestní zákoník).
Complexities of the new law
One of the Czech Republic's largest television networks, FTV Prima, featured a segment on the changes to the law during last night's prime-time news broadcast, titled: "Home cannabis growing is newly legal in the Czech Republic. But the law has some bizarre catches."
The report highlighted several potential pitfalls in the new legislation. "When growing one single plant, you can easily end up with anything between 50 and 500 grams. Typically, an elderly person plants one seed in their greenhouse and it turns into a monster with 500 grams. That would mean they are still committing a crime," warned Lukáš Hurt, Editor-in-Chief of Konopí Magazine.
Personal processing permitted, but sharing prohibited
While the new law allows individuals to make cannabis-based products such as ointments for personal use, strict limitations apply.
"It's important that those who decide to process cannabis are careful not to share it with other people. If they do, they would be entering a completely different area of illegal handling of narcotic and psychotropic substances," cautioned Pavel Kubů MD, Chairman of the cannabis patient association KOPAC.
According to Hurt, the legislation could create absurd situations in practice. "For instance, if a wife and husband share a joint. Technically, that would mean they are committing a criminal offense, although in practice it likely won't be handled as such," he added.
Legal experts are also advising caution regarding cannabis processing, as regulations in this area remain ambiguous. "Once it involves more sophisticated extraction, such as hashish and other concentrates with high levels of THC (which is still a narcotic substance according the Czech law), prosecutors may treat it as sophisticated production of active substances and seek criminal charges even with relatively small amounts," Hurt added.
Czechia joins European frontrunners
With the ratification of this law, Czechia joins the ranks of European countries that have legalized cannabis to a limited extent for non-medical use.
The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland, and Germany, among others, previously took this step.
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