The Czech president recently expressed his support for the legalization of cannabis in the country and for amnesty for those currently imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses. During an hour-long press interview at the Meltingpot discussion forum on the sidelines of the Colors of Ostrava festival, President Pavel cited studies showing that cannabis is significantly less harmful than other legal drugs. He deemed it necessary to consider regulated legalization and raised the issue of amnesty for those currently imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses should such legislation be enacted. According to President Pavel’s recorded remarks during the discussion forum: “A number of studies have shown that cannabis is less harmful than other legal drugs. Discussions in favor of regulated legalization are inappropriate.” If that were the case, it would not make sense for these people convicted of cannabis-related offenses to remain in prison. It would be appropriate to grant them amnesty.”
On the other hand, President Pavel emphasized the need to rethink the use of the presidential pardon power, which was previously delegated to the Ministry of Justice by his predecessor, Milos Zeman. Through his various statements, President Pavel is thus showing that he intends to reclaim the entire pardon power and has already begun discussions with the Minister of Justice, Pavel Blazek, on this matter. The President plans to use it primarily to correct miscarriages of justice and to address disproportionate sentences and cases with significant humanitarian considerations. Will the legalization of cannabis in the Czech Republic be effective in 2024? It is worth recalling that about two months ago, the Czech Republic’s Minister of Health,
Vlastimil Valek,
cast doubt on the country’s ambitious project: to have a legal commercial market for adult cannabis approved and implemented by 2024.
Expressing his position to a local media outlet, Mr. Valek stated that he was waiting for his German counterparts to share their draft legislation, but also to see how the
European Commission (EC) would react to the German proposals. This measured statement contrasted sharply with those of the country’s anti-drug coordinator,
Jindrich Vorobil,who remained determined to pursue the implementation of the commercial market despite the fact that the Germans had scaled back their ambitions in the face of the European Commission’s refusal.
During a speech delivered in May at Cannabis Europa London 2023, Mr. Vorobil reiterated his commitment to launching a fully regulated market. Mr. Vorobil, who is working on this strategy, stated that he hopes theChamber of Deputies
will approve the bill by the end of 2023, which would allow the market to be established in
2024. Under the proposed regulations, companies will be able to enter the commercial cannabis market through a conditional paid license
that will cost sellers 50,000 CZK (2,200 euros) per year. The same amount would apply to a cultivation plot of
200 square meters . Thus, pharmacies will be able to sell cannabis without paying duties, while citizens will be able to cultivate a maximum area of
3 square meters for personal use.
Source: https://www.newsweed.fr/le-president-tcheque-soutient-la-legalisation-du-cannabis/.
