Record Dispensing of Medical Cannabis in the Czech Republic: Prescriptions Rose Sharply in 2025

The prescription of medical cannabis in the Czech Republic continues to rise. Since the start of 2025, general practitioners have also been permitted to treat patients with chronic pain using cannabis, leading to a significant increase in prescriptions.

Pharmacies in the Czech Republic dispensed a record amount of medical cannabis last year. According to data from the State Institute for Drug Control (Státního ústavu pro kontrolu léčiv, SÚKL), this was almost 50 per cent more than the previous year. One reason for this is also the change in the regulation, which now allows general practitioners to prescribe cannabis.

General Practitioners Receive New Prescribing Rights

Since 1 April 2025, general practitioners have been allowed, under a Ministry of Health regulation, to prescribe medical cannabis to patients with long-term, chronic, and intractable pain. As reported by the Czech news channel ČT24, general practitioners now form the largest group of doctors to have applied for the relevant licence – over 250 in total. Slightly fewer are neurologists. Overall, more than 800 doctors in the Czech Republic prescribe medical cannabis. A full list is published by SÚKL on its website.

Foto: Chase Fade | Unsplash

Over 440 Kilograms of Cannabis Prescribed in the Czech Republic in 2025

According to SÚKL, a total of 54,748 prescriptions for medical cannabis were issued last year, corresponding to more than 440 kilograms – around 40 per cent more than the previous year. On average, about 4,000 patients use cannabis each month.

Medical cannabis has been available in the Czech Republic since 2015. In the first year, only 836 grams were dispensed. It is prescribed, among other things, to relieve symptoms during cancer therapy, for HIV patients, after spinal cord injuries, for multiple sclerosis, or for neurological complications. Since 2020, health insurers cover 90 per cent of the cost, up to a maximum of 30 grams per month.

Experts consider cannabis extracts and dried flowers particularly effective. Patients report that pain relief after inhalation or taking drops usually occurs within a few minutes.

Foto: Thiago Patriota | Unsplash

Relaxation of Rules for Personal Cultivation and Possession of Cannabis

From 1 January 2026, relaxed rules also apply to the cultivation of cannabis: legal home cultivation is now permitted for up to three plants, with a maximum of 100 grams at home and 25 grams outdoors. The cultivation of four to five plants is considered an administrative offence, while a higher number is a criminal offence. The same applies to possession of more than 200 grams of cannabis in the home.