High society in Czechia: The lowdown on who uses cannabis and why

In the past year, roughly 600,000 people in Czechia over age 15 used cannabis for self-medication, according to a new government report on illegal drug use. Notably, the most common medicinal users are people over 65, underscoring a shift toward cannabis as a remedy for ailments in older populations, while younger adults still dominate the recreational scene.

Cannabis remains the country’s most commonly used recreational drug, with 11 percent of Czechs reporting recreational use in the last 12 months, according to the report presented by Pavla Chomynova, head of the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions. This trend has been stable for adults in the 15–34 age range, with use tapering off as people get older.

However, for medical purposes, the opposite trend emerges: cannabis use actually increases among older age groups, suggesting that more elderly Czechs are turning to cannabis for relief.

The study reveals some demographic distinctions. Men are more likely than women to use cannabis, and young people are the group most likely to engage in risky usage patterns. Between 7 to 11 percent of Czechs over age 15 reported recreational cannabis use, with 4 percent of adults indicating patterns of risky consumption, a statistic highest among those aged 25–34.

Self-medication is another significant factor in cannabis consumption, with 4 to 6 percent of people over 15—roughly 350,000 to 600,000 individuals—using it solely for medicinal purposes in the last year. Cannabis as a health aid has become more common as the population ages, with more than 16 percent of surveyed adults reporting having used cannabis for self-medication at least once.

Interestingly, the proportion of adolescents with cannabis experience is dropping, down from 45 percent in 2007 to around 30 percent in recent years.

But while traditional cannabis use among teens is on the decline, the report highlights an uptick in experimentation with newer substances, including kratom and cannabinol HHC. Over the past year, 8 percent of teens aged 11 to 19 reported trying kratom, a jump from 2 percent in 2021, while 18 percent of 15- to 19-year-olds reported using HHC, a cannabinoid recently added to the country’s list of banned substances.

According to the report, small home-growing operations are on the rise, while large-scale sites are decreasing. Much of the cannabis trade now takes place online, often with payments in cryptocurrency.

Despite cannabis’ popularity, possessing more than a small amount remains illegal in Czechia. However, the government is considering reforms that would allow adults to grow up to three plants and possess up to 25 grams in public and 50 grams at home. These proposed changes to the Criminal Code are set for discussion next week.

The debate on regulation continues, with some officials pushing for a regulated cannabis market to curb illicit trade and capitalize on tax revenue. The government’s National Economic Council has recommended such a shift, highlighting that current punitive policies burden the budget without reducing consumption or harm.