Czech cannabis magazine Legalizace accused of «promoting drug addiction»

Robert Veverka, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Czech cannabis magazine Legalizace, faces a five-year prison sentence for «incitement and promotion of drug addiction».

In addition to publishing Legalizace, Robert Veverka also manages Legalizace.cz, a cannabis-focused NGO. He also sits on the Prague Council Commission for the Coordination of Drug Policy and is a member of the Safety Commission and the Education Commission of Prague's 2nd Municipal District.

Calculated and misleading

Robert Veverka called the accusation «calculated, stigmatizing, bordering on untruthful, and based on spurious conjecture and a limited police interpretation that growing and processing cannabis is automatically illegal, or that any mention of cannabis automatically amounts to ‘incitement to drug addiction'».

He has already announced that he will defend himself in court: «I consider it my duty to fight not only for Legalizace magazine's right to exist, but also for the rights of all print and electronic media that have already dared to mention the word «cannabis» - or plan to do so in the future».

Legalizace, a bimonthly published since 2010, focuses on the’cannabis news, the history and cultivation of cannabis, drug legislation, cultivation methods, cannabis treatments and latest scientific findings.

Systemic failure and ignorance

Under Czech law, cannabis is considered an ordinary agricultural crop and also has the status of a medicinal plant.

Robert Veverka said the charges against him and his magazine demonstrate the systemic failure and ignorance of cannabis legislation by prosecutors, while infringing the freedom of expression and right to information guaranteed by the Czech Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

The first hearing in this case is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 5, at the Bruntál District Court.