Czech GPs will be able to prescribe medical cannabis from April 2025

The Czech Republic will allow general practitioners to prescribe medical cannabis for chronic pain starting April 1, 2025.

This decision follows intensive lobbying by patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals. Currently, only 8,000 patients in the country legally use medical cannabis, while surveys suggest that more than one million people rely on it for medical purposes, often resorting to home cultivation.

Simplify access to cannabis for chronic pain

So far, cannabis prescriptions in the Czech Republic were reserved for specialist physicians, creating significant obstacles for patients. The new decree simplifies access to medical cannabis by authorizing general practitioners to prescribe cannabis in cases of refractory chronic pain.

Petr Šonka, president of the Association of General Practitioners of the Czech Republic, welcomed the importance of this reform.

«If general practitioners can prescribe opioids such as morphine, it stands to reason that they should also be authorized to prescribe medical cannabis,» he explained.

By transferring prescribing authority to general practitioners, the government intends to meet the growing demand for medical cannabis while maintaining adequate control.

The gap between legal prescriptions and actual usage already highlighted the need for reform. Data from the National Observatory on Drugs reveals that while only a small number of Czech patients have legal access to medical cannabis, approximately 600,000 people in the Czech Republic grow and use cannabis at home for medical purposes.

This disparity exposes patients to potential legal risks, as personal cultivation and distribution remain criminal offenses. despite the decriminalization of personal use.

«Patients openly admit that they grow cannabis at home for therapeutic purposes,» noted Mr. Šonka.

Administrative and financial obstacles

The reform should reduce administrative burdens for doctors and patients. Under the new rules, prescriptions can be issued for a maximum of three months at a time, compared to one month currently.

However, financial constraints persist. While The insurance covers 90% of the cost, up to a maximum of From 30 grams of cannabis per month, many patients require much larger quantities. For individuals with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, monthly needs can reach 90 grams, forcing them to cover significant expenses out-of-pocket. With cannabis priced at around 200 Czech korunas (8 euros) per gram, the costs can be prohibitive for many.