Government Wants Tougher Action Against Illegal Sale of Kratom

Operation KORUND has uncovered numerous violations involving the sale of kratom, cannabis products and other psychoactive substances. The government is now planning stricter regulations and expanded powers for the inspection authorities.

The Czech government wants to take more decisive action against the illegal sale of kratom, kratom extracts and products made from low-potency cannabis. The move follows the results of the nationwide KORUND inspection operation, which Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar presented to the cabinet.

Operation KORUND was carried out from May until the end of June by the Czech police in cooperation with the Customs Administration, the State Food Inspection Authority, the Trade Inspection Authority and regional public health authorities. Its aim was to curb the illegal supply of high-risk products and assess how effectively the authorities can respond to the rapidly changing market for new psychoactive substances.

According to the government, the inspection authorities identified numerous violations of the law and seized large quantities of illegally offered products.

Babiš Calls for Legislative Changes

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described the results of the inspections as alarming. He said the current legislation did not give the authorities sufficient powers to take consistent action against retailers that violated or circumvented legal regulations.

“That is why we need to change the laws. The ministers responsible for health and the interior must submit the relevant legislative amendments by 14 September so that we can close shops that circumvent the regulations and sell substances that result in children and adults ending up in hospital after consuming them,” Babiš said on Monday. The current situation was a consequence of the previous government’s liberal drug policy, the prime minister added.

Foto: Vaporesso | Unsplash

Working Group Proposes 16 Legislative Changes

An interdepartmental working group on psychoactive substances has proposed a total of 16 legislative measures. They are intended to close existing legal loopholes, tighten market surveillance and improve coordination between the responsibilities of the various inspection authorities.

The plans include lower THC limits, a ban on the further processing of CBD as a raw material and stricter regulations for nicotine pouches, kratom and e-cigarettes. At the same time, public health authorities and other supervisory bodies are to receive additional powers. The seizure of illegal products is also to be regulated more effectively in future.

Further Shortcomings Identified During Inspections

Operation KORUND also revealed weaknesses in the inspection, supervisory and law enforcement powers of various state bodies. Based on the findings, a further 17 non-legislative measures were therefore developed.

These concern organisational, technical and coordination-related changes. They are intended to enable more effective enforcement of the existing regulations and improve the protection of public health.