Czech Republic to authorize general practitioners to prescribe medical cannabis
Research indicates that over a million people use it medicinally, often resorting to home cultivation
Published on 12/06/2024
Image: Canva Pro
The Czech Republic will authorize general practitioners to prescribe medical cannabis for chronic pain starting on April 1, 2025.
The decision comes after a strong campaign by patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals. Currently, only 8,000 patients in the country legally use medical cannabis, although research indicates that over a million people use it medicinally, often resorting to home cultivation.
Medical cannabis has been legal in the Czech Republic since 2013, but only specialists are allowed to prescribe it. This limits access, as only 200 doctors are authorized to prescribe cannabis-based medications.
Administrative and Financial Obstacles
The reform aims to reduce bureaucracy for doctors and patients. Under the new rules, prescriptions can be issued for up to three months, instead of the current one-month limit.
However, financial difficulties remain. Insurance covers 90% of the cost of up to 30 grams of cannabis per month, but many patients require much larger amounts. Patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis, for example, may need 90 grams per month, which forces them to bear significant costs. With the price of cannabis around 200 CZK (8 euros) per gram, the costs become prohibitive for many.
Challenges and Expectations for the Future
Lukas Hurt, editor of Konopi magazine and manager of the CzechHemp hemp cluster, commented to Cannabis Health: "It is clear that the number of prescribing doctors is the biggest obstacle to increasing the number of patients and access to the medical cannabis program in the Czech Republic".
He also highlighted the long battle faced against resistance from the Ministry of Health, which initially opposed progress in the area. "While we haven't achieved everything we wanted, this is very positive news," he added.
CzechHemp continues to advocate for other legislative changes, including the possibility of prescribing cannabis-based medications for children with serious illnesses, such as cancer and epilepsy.
