Doctors increasingly turning to medical cannabis despite red tape

Despite bureaucratic hurdles, a growing number of Czech doctors are opting to treat patients with medical cannabis, Novinky.cz reported, citing statistics from the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL). Since the introduction of a new law in April allowing general practitioners to prescribe cannabis extracts as an alternative to opioids or morphine for chronic pain, 235 physicians have registered to do so. The number of patients seeking prescriptions is now around 3,500 per month. Nationwide, roughly 7,000 people meet the criteria for cannabis treatment, but access remains limited, with only a few pharmacies having medical cannabis in stock.

Estimates suggest that several million Czechs use marijuana, over half of them for medical purposes. A newly adopted criminal code introduces partial legalization, allowing individuals to grow up to three cannabis plants without facing legal consequences.