Czech Republic: CBD shops selling synthetic cannabinoids are in the police's crosshairs

The Czech Republic could soon grant the police new powers to immediately shut down businesses suspected of selling dangerous psychoactive substances.

Announced by the local press and reported by Cannabisindustrie.nl, the bill supported by the Prime Minister Andrej Babiš would allow law enforcement to close a business for up to 14 days, with CBD shops in particular being targeted that sells synthetic cannabinoids.

Presented to the Chamber of Deputies by coalition politicians, this proposal specifically targets the «cannabis stores» that have proliferated in major Czech cities. Despite their cannabis-focused branding, authorities claim that some of these retail outlets primarily offer synthetic psychoactive substances or semi-synthetic, sometimes sold as candies or cookies.

The police could close the stores immediately

Under the proposed amendment, police officers would no longer be limited to confiscating products deemed dangerous. They would be able to temporarily close the entire establishment. According to the government, existing procedures are too slow to effectively prevent merchants suspected of repeatedly selling prohibited substances.

«The goal is to combat the illegal sale of prohibited substances. Currently, the standard procedure is for the police to intervene—possibly accompanied by the Food Inspection Authority or the Trade Inspection Authority—seize the goods, and by the time they reach the end of the street, the vendors have already started selling them again,» said Boris Šťastný, Minister of Sports and Prevention.

A closure could last up to 14 days, depending on the health risk, the quantity of the substances in question, and the retailer’s response to an initial order to cease sales. If the alleged danger were subsequently found to be unfounded, the police would be required to reopen the establishment. Business owners could also challenge the decision within three days.

This initiative comes in response to repeated criticism from’Andrej Babiš against retailers who sell psychoactive products in attractive packaging.

«They sell products that look like cookies or candy, but are actually life-threatening because they contain psychoactive substances. It’s a real scandal. I want to assure you that I’m going to tackle this problem, and believe me, I won’t do things by halves,» he said earlier this year.

A measure that raises constitutional questions

The new powers that could be granted to the police are already facing political opposition. The bill’s sponsors acknowledge that the administrative closure of establishments would infringe upon the property rights and commercial rights protected by the Constitution, but argue that the measure is justified on public health grounds and is accompanied by a mechanism for seeking redress.

Štěpán Slovák, a member of the ODS party, believes that the proposed powers are too broad.

«I certainly don’t defend businesses that sell products that are hazardous to health, but I believe the powers proposed for the police are too broad,» he said.

Mr. Slovák instead advocates for an emergency closure limited to 48 hours, after which responsibility would be transferred to a specialized authority or a court.

Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Major Concern in the Czech Republic

This political debate is taking place against a backdrop marked by reported cases of’poisonings involving synthetic cannabinoids and kratom.

According to figures from the Czech police cited by local media, 235 cases of poisoning were reported during the first five months of 2026, and about one in ten of these cases resulted in death. Synthetic cannabinoids and kratom were involved in 161 of these cases, including four deaths.

Emergency services in Prague have also reported treating increasingly younger patients for cannabinoid-related poisonings; the youngest patient reported last year was only 11 years old.

Synthetic cannabinoids are a broad and ever-evolving class of laboratory-produced compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors. Their pharmacological profiles may differ significantly from those of THC, which makes their effects and risks particularly difficult for consumers to anticipate.