From today, all doctors in Czechia can prescribe medicinal cannabis

All general practitioners (GPs) in Czechia are from today, April 1, authorized to prescribe medical cannabis to patients suffering from chronic pain, marking a significant shift in accessibility for the drug.

Until now, only specialists—of whom there are approximately 250—could issue prescriptions for medical cannabis. Under the new regulation, GPs will be able to provide prescriptions, simplifying access for patients dealing with long-term health conditions.

“For patients, this means a more streamlined process,” physician Pavel Kubů told Czech media outlet Seznam Zprávy. Notably, he also says that from today patients will be able to receive a three-month supply on a single prescription (rather than for just 30 days).

The new rules also expand eligibility, allowing minors under 18 to receive cannabis-based treatments if they have oncological diseases or require palliative care for incurable diagnoses.

According to the law, a patient is entitled to a maximum of 180 grams of dry matter of medicinal cannabis (or a quantity of cannabis extract derived from it) per month.

Medical cannabis has seen a steady increase in use in the Czech Republic. In the first year after its medical legalization in 2013, pharmacists dispensed less than a kilogram of the drug. 

By 2021, that figure had risen to over 100 kilograms, and in 2023, it reached nearly 320 kilograms. Official statistics indicate that around 8,000 people currently use the dried version of the drug or its extracts for medicinal treatments, though some experts believe the actual number is significantly higher.

According to the National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Addiction, around 600,000 people nationwide use it purely as a medicine. Furthermore, more than 1 million Czechs have tried it for home treatment in the last year.

Despite the broader access, the chairman of the Association of General Practitioners, Petr Šonka, does not anticipate an overwhelming surge in demand. 

Šonka welcomed the change, emphasizing that GPs already prescribe stronger opioid-based medications—including fentanyl. “Cannabis is significantly less dangerous and does not have such a strong effect. It would therefore be strange if GPs could not prescribe it,” he explained.

Cannabis is commonly used to treat chronic and neuropathic pain, neurological conditions, multiple sclerosis, and HIV-related symptoms. It is also utilized in palliative care for terminal cancer patients. Patients who want to use the drug will need to present demonstrable proof of their condition (and that it requires treatment with cannabis).

While the changes reduce some bureaucratic hurdles, Kubů believes further improvements are needed. He pointed to restrictions on which medical conditions qualify for cannabis prescriptions, contrasting the Czech approach with more flexible policies in Germany, Poland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

“If the treating doctor in those countries deems it appropriate, they can prescribe cannabis just like any other medication. There is no reason for excessive bureaucratic oversight,” he argued.

Additionally, financial barriers remain. The cost of cannabis-based treatments often exceeds the national drug reimbursement limit, making them financially burdensome for patients. Kubů suggested that future reforms could involve shifting cannabis prescriptions under specialized facilities with dedicated funding.