The Czech Senate has approved new regulations to limit the sale of certain psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), which will only be available to adults in specific stores starting in December, pending the president's
signature.
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The amendment to the Act on Addictive Substances is aimed at addressing concerns about the unregulated availability of these substances, especially to minors, following incidents such as the poisoning of schoolchildren in Karlovy Vary by sweets containing HHC.
Kratom, derived from *Mitragyna speciosa*, has been noted for its stimulant and sedative effects, and is used to treat chronic pain and opium dependency. Given its medicinal benefits, a complete ban on kratom is not being considered. Instead, the regulation seeks to control its sale, as described by Senator Karel Zitterbart, who noted the ease with which minors can currently purchase kratom.
The goal of the amendment, according to Senator Roman Kraus, chairman of the Senate healthcare committee, is to implement strict market regulation without prohibiting or criminalizing the sale and use of these substances. Kraus emphasized the significant volume of kratom sold annually in Czechia—estimated between 200 to 300 tons—and stressed the importance of protecting public health.
The amendment was previously passed by the lower Chamber of Deputies in May, and the Ministry of Health has since sought approval from the European Commission to ensure compliance with EU market regulations regarding cross-border sales and exports. The new rules will categorize substances by risk level and restrict sales to specialized stores, banning their sale through vending machines or in the form of toys or sweets. Online sales will also face stricter controls, including mandatory age verification.
The legislation comes as the Ministry of Health also proposes legalizing the personal cultivation of up to three cannabis plants, although critics argue that the proposed 50-gram limit on dried cannabis is impractical, as plants typically yield much more. Experts like Jindřich Vobořil, a former government anti-drug agent, have suggested that the plan is more symbolic than functional.
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