Govt. to regulate sale of “psychomodulating substances” CBD, kratom

The Czech government plans to create a new legal category, "psychomodulating substances", that will allow for the regulated sale of CBD and kratom, the minister of regional development, Ivan Bartoš, told reporters on Wednesday.

Mr. Bartoš said that present sales of such substances online or via vending machines were not subject to regulation, adding that even children could buy them, the news site Novinky.cz reported.

Under the government’s new rules, such substances will only be sold to the over 18s and the advertising of them will be prohibited. National anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Voboril said that the legislation could come into force next year.

CBD comes from cannabis plants while kratom is the herbal leaf of an evergreen tree with opioid properties.