Czech Republic about to move to 1% THC in hemp

Czech President Miloš Zeman is expected to sign an increase in the maximum THC content of industrial hemp to 1% in the next few days, considerably relaxing the rules on THC in finished hemp products.

In addition to THC limit of 1% for hemp plants «In the »real world", finished hemp products containing less than 1% THC by weight would not be considered addictive substances, and would be exempt from the country's anti-addiction regime. Thus, products such as extracts and tinctures that meet the new threshold could be freely available at retail level in the Czech Republic.

By increasing the amount of THC authorized in hemp plants to 1%, the Czech limit would far exceed that of the European Union, set to increase to 0.3% «in the field».

Trend to 1.0 % THC

Various countries around the world have set a THC limit of 1%, including Switzerland and Australia, breaking with the generally accepted global guideline of 0.3% that has been observed since hemp reappeared in the 1990s.

The higher limit is important, especially for producers of CBD Higher THC levels mean higher CBD levels. For traditional farmers, it also means less risk of their crops exceeding the permitted THC level.

Decriminalisation of extracts

In addition to re-setting the THC limit for hemp «in the field», the new Czech law will allow hemp extracts and tinctures containing less than 1% THC.

In a report to Czech senators describing the new law, CzecHemp, a stakeholder group, said that the package of amendments «opens up the possibility of manufacturing and marketing products up to a maximum of 1% of tetrahydrocannabinol», but notes that the provisions of the new law are «without prejudice to other regulations», and that products «must be safe and not subject to misuse».

Although the new law would not allow food and cosmetics to be marketed immediately, it would decriminalize health products or hemp-based «cosmetics» often made at home by elderly Czechs, according to CzecHemp.

CzecHemp also notes that the new law :

• Introduces the term «technical hemp» (industrial hemp) defined as a plant that comes from seeds listed in the European catalog or from which hemp with a THC content of up to 1% can be produced.
• Removes the requirement for processors of «technical hemp» to be authorized to handle addictive substances
• Establishes the term «hemp extract for medical use» defined as «intended for the preparation of an individually prepared medicinal product». According to CzecHemp, the Czech Institute for Drug Control has yet to amend existing legislation to lay down the conditions for «prescribing, preparing, distributing, dispensing and using individually prepared medicines containing cannabis for therapeutic use».»