Prime Minister Petr Fiala along with other senior ministers Wednesday ruled out the regulation of products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Previously, the State Agricultural and Food Inspection (SZPI) had been preparing a measure that would ban the marketing of CBD and other substances obtained from hemp. According to the SZPI, some CBD products contain dangerous products and pesticides.
The proposal was based on EU regulation, which stated that so-called novel foods (such as CBD) need to be regulated. Fiala said he will work together with Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula to try to find a solution to the EU measure. The Czech prime minister said he viewed the proposed ban as "unfortunate."
“A working group will meet that will look for a way to ensure that foods containing CBD do not fall under a ban, as this would mean a major complication for users of this substance and for a number of Czech businessmen”
Prime Minister Petr Fiala
On the Czech market, CBD products are sold as e-cigarettes, oils, and confectionery, and are freely purchasable. CBD is used for medicinal purposes – such as for pain and anxiety – and has been legal since 2013.
Recreational marijuana, on the other hand, is decriminalized yet illegal. The government earlier this year announced plans to legalize the recreational use of the drug by introducing a regulated market.