Higher THC for farmers and more medical growers
Increasing the THC limit for technical cannabis from the current 0.3% to 1% is good news for farmers, who will no longer have to worry that their legally sown field will become a drug product due to the weather in the eyes of the state. MEPs also approved a change in the assessment of cannabis tinctures and extracts up to 1% THC, which will no longer be considered an addictive substance.
From the political party, Piráti – Tomáš Vymazal tried to draw the attention of his colleagues in the Chamber to the contradiction that exists in punishing cannabis growers for their use.
A turning point is the approved amendment, which now allows private individuals to obtain a license to grow cannabis for medical purposes. Following the acquisition of a license, which is conditional in particular on the demonstration of good manufacturing practice, it is thus possible to grow, manufacture or distribute medicinal cannabis under the same conditions as any other addictive substance.
Conflicts ignored
Tomáš Vymazal tried to draw the attention of his colleagues in the Chamber to the contradiction that exists in punishing cannabis growers for their use.
He described the current legal situation in the Czech Republic as follows: “The paradox, in my opinion, is that instead of being fined 15 thousand crowns for growing one plant, the Czech Republic spends 100 thousand crowns on criminal proceedings, in which I get a condition with a little misfortune, I’ll end up in two years in prison, or maybe even eight, as has been the case lately. “
While the unauthorized cultivation itself is a misdemeanour in five plants, processing (harvesting, drying) is a criminal offence for personal use. Unfortunately, even his demonstration with the cutting of the flower of a sunflower, which thus became another victim of the fight against cannabis, did not convince other deputies, nor did the possibility of abolishing criminal penalties for growing a few plants for own use.
A turning point is the approved amendment, which now allows private individuals to obtain a license to grow cannabis for medical purposes.
Adam Vojtěch has repeatedly refuted arguments from the Ministry of Health: “When someone grows cannabis at home, it does not mean that he grows medicinal cannabis, he grows something that does not know what is in it, in the plant that contains, in contrast to medical cannabis, where there is a clear guarantee of good manufacturing practice, but also, of course, verification that it is a drug that is prescribed by a doctor. “It is surprising that the same state that persecutes cannabis growers is often draconian has such concerns about the quality of the plants they grow”.
Except for the new year
Senators will now deal with the draft amendment to the law. In conclusion, it should be noted that in the case of approval, the effectiveness of the decision was postponed until 1 January 2022 due to the proposal of Věra Adámková (ANO).