Cannabis and the Czech Republic

Some landmark studies have emerged from the Czech Republic regarding the medicinal properties of cannabis in the recent past, especially in the areas of pulmonary medicine and the tuberculosis disease. Studies have shown cannabis to be effective against extreme drug resistant tuberculosis or XDR-TB. Reports have emerged of pro-cannabis marches in the streets of Prague. Some global multinational cannabis companies are said to be establishing themselves in the Czech Republic to cater to the needs of the Czech people since locally grown varieties are difficult to find for medical purposes.

The Czech Republic has most of the problems that other European countries face as a result of cannabis prohibition. This includes an increased proliferation of heroin and other deadly drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids and abuse of prescription drugs, in addition to the existing legal drugs that are more deadly than cannabis i.e. alcohol and tobacco. The usage of these drugs especially among the youth has been highlighted in many scientific studies. Mitigation approaches such as needle exchange programs and safe drug consumption rooms have been initiated to curb use. Yet the one key action which is the legalization of cannabis for recreational use still remains to be taken. The Czech people have however started taking matters into their own hands much like in other European countries like Switzerland, France, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. In fact, in most places, where cannabis has been legalized, it was the result of concerted action taken by the people, rather than proactive corrections made to the unjust cannabis laws by lawmakers.

Medical cannabis has been slowly becoming a reality in the recent past. It was regulated by the government in 2013 and is said to be available on prescription. The numbers of medical cannabis users is said to have doubled in 2020. Medical insurance is said to cover nearly 90% of the cost of cannabis procured for medical purposes. However the industry is plagued by supply issues and bureaucratic controls. Most of the supply of medical cannabis comes from a few multinational companies mainly from Canada and Europe.

It is likely that cannabis consumption among the general public is on the rise primarily fueled by the black market which may be getting the bulk of its cannabis from Africa and Asia. It also may be likely that the industries opposed to cannabis worldwide are mainly responsible for keeping cannabis prohibited in the Czech Republic as well. The Czech government needs to show the will to make things better for its people especially the poorest, minorities, indigenous communities, elderly, sick, youth and women, by looking at ways to locally cultivate cannabis or enter into trade with countries that export cannabis. Most importantly, the home growing of cannabis must be legalized. 

 

The country needs to support adult recreational cannabis legalization in the UN so that the world and therefore the Czech Republic can once again reach normalization with regard to the valuable medicinal and safe recreational plant that has served mankind and life on earth for thousands of years.

In December 2020,  the UN voted to remove cannabis from its most restricted Schedule IV category of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It does however still remain in Schedule I, which is the least restrictive. This one move by the UN itself should be sufficient to bring about the recreational legalization of cannabis in every nation and an overhaul of national drug laws.

Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article.   

'Since earlier this year, Czech patients have been entitled to insurance coverage of 90% of the retail price for 30 grams of flower per month for medical use, regardless of THC content.

 In exceptional cases, doctors may authorize quantities exceeding the monthly limit of 30 grams for reimbursement, but the limit cannot exceed 180 grams per month.

 One of the problems is that the government fixed prices across the supply chain, with pharmacies now barely making any profit from dispensing cannabis flower.

 The consequence of this is limited incentive for pharmacies to sell cannabis flower, according to Kubálek.

 Another shortcoming is bureaucratic in nature.

“The Ministry of Health has introduced 64 possible prescription codes for cannabis. Each code represents a type of cannabis with a precisely defined content of THC and CBD,” Kubálek said.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/insurance-coverage-boosts-czech-medical-cannabis-market-but-country-limited-to-one-cultivator/


'The amendment will also newly allow more than a single central producer to grow medicinal marijuana, with the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) giving licenses to smaller producers.

 The ministry said it is not known at the moment how many such small producers will be needed'
https://news.expats.cz/health-medical/czech-government-approves-amendment-granting-licenses-for-medicinal-marijuana-production/

'Cannabis for medical purposes was regulated in the Czech Republic, a country with approximately 10 million people, in 2013 and has since been legal as a prescribed form of medication. The law allows patients a total of 180 grams of dry flower product per month, as prescribed by specialized physicians, and can be obtained using an electronic prescription form. While the country has some domestic production, product availability remains limited and importing products from federally licensed producers with EU GMP cultivation facilities, like Aurora, will continue to augment supply and help meet growing market demand.'
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/aurora-cannabis-to-ship-medical-cannabis-to-the-czech-republic-701323691.html


'Countries such as Poland, France and Ireland represent nascent opportunities for medical marijuana, along with more mature markets in the European Union such as Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Germany – where Kennedy said he expects 100,000 patients by the end of the year compared with just 800 at the end of 2015.

Net loss for the full year 2018 totaled $67.7 million amid annual revenue of $43.1 million, more than double that period in 2017.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-firm-tilray-reports-higher-than-expected-q4-revenue-of-15-5m/


'In 1955, the Tuberculosis, Nutrition Study in Czechoslovakia declared that ihemp (industrial hemp) seed was the only food that could cure tuberculosis. After 30 years of research, they discovered that a high protein diet was necessary for successfully treating TB.'
http://iihaindia.org/ihemp/ihemp-seeds-cure-tb/


'For virtually any disease or infection that can be treated with terramycin, cannabis derivatives did better in Czechoslovakian studies, 1952-1955. The Czechs in 1997 still published farm crop reports on strategies to grow cannabidiol rich hemp. (Also see Cohen & Stillman, Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana; Mikuriya, Tod H., M.D., Marijuana Medical Papers; Roffman, Marijuana as Medicine, 1982; International Farm Crop abstracts.)' - The Emperor wears no clothes by Jack Herer


'The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic has proposed that 90% of patients’ monthly costs for up to 30 grams of medical cannabis be reimbursed by public health insurance companies. (Press Release, Ing. Gabriela ŠtÄ?panyová, Spokeswoman for Director of Public Relations Department, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Health Proposes Public Health Insurance Payment of 90% for Therapeutic Hemp'
http://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/czech-republic-ministry-of-health-proposes-public-health-insurance-companies-reimburse-patients-for-medical-cannabis-costs/


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