Czech Republic relaxes cannabis law with a major overhaul of its penal code

Czech lawmakers eased restrictions on cannabis use and possession on Friday, overhauling the penal code to reduce the burden on prisons and save money.

The bill was approved by 151 MPs from all parties in the 200-seat parliament, which is dominated by the ruling four-party centre-right coalition.

Czechs will be allowed to grow three cannabis plants and possess up to 100 grams of dried marijuana at home and up to 25 grams outside. Growing four or five plants will be a minor offence, while more than that will be a criminal offence, as will possession of more than 200 grams of dried marijuana at home.

Until now, people caught processing cannabis into marijuana have faced up to five years in prison.

„The amendment will help the criminal law to better distinguish between truly socially harmful behaviour and cases that are not subject to the criminal process,“ says a statement by Justice Minister Pavel Blazek. At the same time, we are simplifying and speeding up processes that have unnecessarily burdened both the courts and the accused," he added.

Legislators also legalised the medical use of the drug psilocybin, found in mushrooms. The euphoria-inducing drug is used to treat depression.

The amendment to the Penal Code gives priority to alternative punishments and reduces sanctions for some acts, including pro-terrorist comments on social networks. On the other hand, it provides for sanctions for the use of 'smart video forgery' recordings made with the intent to harm others and for 'smart video forgery pornography'.

The law also strengthens sanctions for hate crimes and removes the ban on publishing the names of those prosecuted and suspected of crimes.

The bill still has to be debated in the Senate, where the ruling coalition also has a majority, and signed by the President.