The Czech Parliament approves the decriminalisation of home cannabis cultivation

For several years, the Czech Republic has been engaged in a struggle to legalise cannabis for adult use. Now, the modernisation of policies surrounding this plant has taken a historic step forward, with the Parliament approving a comprehensive reform of the Penal Code that approves the decriminalisation of home cannabis cultivation and possession for personal use. The initiative, led by the Czech Government, will have a direct impact on the country’s criminal justice system. If all goes according to plan, the new law will come into effect on 1 January 2026.

On 30 May, the Czech Chamber of Deputies approved a radical reform of the country’s Penal Code, paving the way for more permissive cannabis laws and a shift towards alternative sentencing. The bill, passed by 142 of the 159 deputies present, marks one of the most significant updates to Czech criminal law in decades, aiming to reduce the prison population and promote rehabilitation.

One of the key aspects of the reform is the easing of restrictions on cannabis possession and cultivation. Under the proposed regulations, adults over the age of 21 will be allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants for personal use, and possess up to 100 grams of dried cannabis at home or 25 grams in public.

Possession beyond these limits will remain penalised: growing four to five plants will be considered a minor offence, while higher quantities will be treated as a criminal offence. Possessing more than 200 grams of dried cannabis at home will also be classified as a serious crime.

The implications of this decriminalisation of home cannabis cultivation

After more than two years of tireless work by cannabis policy reform activists, this marks the biggest blow to prohibition in the last 70 years. The Czech Republic thus becomes the second major European country (after Germany) where adult citizens can legally grow, harvest, dry, process, and store their own cannabis.

However, the measure is not without concern. The main worry is the upper limit of 100 grams of dried flowers for home growers – a limit deemed too low considering that an experienced grower can produce between 100 and 500 grams from a single plant. A similar debate also took place in Germany.

The Rational Regulation Association (RARE), which has played a key role in pushing for legalisation in the Czech Parliament, argued that this limit would actively undermine the bill’s goals, giving the police a tool “with which they can continue to target small-scale growers who grow for their own needs”.

The approved reform also includes the legalisation of the therapeutic use of psilocybin – the psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms –, placing it on par with medical cannabis, which is already permitted in the country. It also establishes a dedicated section for cannabis-related offences, with penalties adjusted to reflect the lower social risk of this substance compared to other drugs.

The reform seeks to differentiate between genuinely harmful behaviour and minor infractions that should not burden the criminal justice system, giving judges greater flexibility to impose alternative penalties (such as fines and probation) for a wider range of offences.

A law set to take effect on 1 January 2026

The legal reform, which still requires Senate approval and then the signature of President Petr Pavel (who has already stated he will sign it), is set to take effect on 1 January 2026. Although the reform package was passed by a broad parliamentary majority, it now faces scrutiny from the Upper House; but experts believe it is highly likely to be approved.

Supporters argue that the changes will ease pressure on the prison system and modernise judicial practices, while critics warn of potential unforeseen consequences of this sweeping reform, which also addresses hate crimes and expands the list of aggravating circumstances to include offences such as deepfake pornography and certain violent or sexual crimes.

The new legislative framework, presented by Civic Democratic Party MP Zdenka Němečková Crkvenjaš, represents a compromise after more ambitious proposals from the Pirate Party were rejected. These would have created a regulated cannabis market and amended the Penal Code to legalise venues for supervised drug consumption, where users could consume substances in a controlled environment and have them tested for contaminants.

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Something green is moving in Europe

Personal possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis without intent to distribute was first decriminalised in the Czech Republic in 2010, and medical cannabis was legalised in 2013. In 2024, Czech doctors prescribed 318.7 kilograms of medical cannabis to an average of approximately 3,300 patients per month. These figures were expected to rise from April 2025, when Czech family doctors were able to start prescribing cannabis for chronic pain.

The decriminalisation of cannabis home cultivation and use in the Czech Republic is part of a growing trend across Europe, where several countries have adopted legalisation measures to support public health strategies.

For instance, less than a year after Slovenian voters approved a couple of ballot initiatives on cannabis, lawmakers in that country introduced a bill on 3 May (marijuana March Day) to regulate cannabis specifically for medical and scientific use.

According to local reports, this measure, introduced by the Freedom Movement (Gibanje Svoboda) and The Left (Levica), would legalise cannabis extracts, plants, and resin, removing them from Slovenia’s list of illegal drugs. However, THC would remain prohibited unless used for medical or scientific purposes.

In Germany, following a crucial national election in February, the parties forming the new coalition government announced in April that they would conduct an “open evaluation” of the country’s new cannabis legalisation law.

Reform advocates had been closely watching how the centrist coalition would handle the Can-G legalisation law, which officially came into effect back in April 2024. Conservative lawmakers, who won the most votes in the election, expressed their desire to repeal the law but failed to get another party to adopt this stance as part of the new coalition agreement.

Kannabia and its commitment to the freedom to grow

At Kannabia, we want to celebrate the Czech Parliament’s historic decision as a vital step towards the normalisation of cannabis in Europe. As a seed bank with over two decades of experience, we firmly believe that the right to self-cultivation is a pillar of individual freedom and safe access to quality cannabis.

For years, we have advocated for the comprehensive legalisation, responsible use, and destigmatisation of this ancient plant. We actively support associations, collectives, and growers fighting for a fair legal framework, and remain committed to the democratisation of cannabis cultivation, both for medicinal and recreational purposes.

That’s why we want to extend a warm welcome to all Czech growers embarking on this new chapter. To celebrate, we’re offering 33% off three legendary varieties for customers in the Czech Republic for the next three days. Because we believe that growing your own plant is not only a right, but also a form of empowerment and connection with nature.

Dobré zprávy, Czechia! The green revolution continues to grow – and Kannabia will always be with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the decriminalisation of cannabis home-growing in the Czech Republic involve?

The new legislation allows adults over 21 to grow up to three cannabis plants for personal use and to possess up to 100 grams of dried cannabis at home or 25 grams in public, without it being considered a criminal offence.

When will the new cannabis home-growing law take effect?

If approved by the Senate and signed by the President, the new law is set to come into force on 1 January 2026 across the Czech Republic.

What are the legal consequences for exceeding the allowed cannabis limits?

Growing four to five plants will be treated as a minor offence, while growing more than five or possessing over 200 grams of dried cannabis at home will be classified as a criminal offence.

What other legal changes are included in the approved reform?

Besides cannabis cultivation, the law legalises the therapeutic use of psilocybin and creates a dedicated section in the Penal Code for cannabis-related offences, with penalties reflecting its lower social risk.

How does Kannabia view this legislative reform?

Kannabia celebrates this measure as a victory for individual freedom and safe access to legal cannabis. As a seed bank, it supports responsible home-growing and promotes cannabis normalisation across Europe.