The Czech Republic could amend its CBD and cannabis law
On 9 June 2026, in the Czech Republic, a government working group responsible for psychoactive substances presented a set of recommendations aimed at substantially reforming the regulation of industrial hemp.
More specifically, the government is considering lowering the permitted THC threshold in a CBD product from 1 to 0.3 per cent.
Focus on this Czech draft law
The draft law, which was prepared under the authority of the Czech authorities and Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s ANO movement, proposes:
- Lowering the permitted THC threshold in a CBD or hemp product from 1 to 0.3 per cent.
- Restricting certain extraction processes.
- Banning certain food products, particularly those containing CBD.
These three options were formally set out in the report submitted to the relevant ministries.
But why, when the Czech Republic is often cited as one of the most forward-thinking countries on this subject, is such a step backwards being considered?
It appears that the authorities have in fact expressed serious concerns about synthetic hemp derivatives, especially with HHC (hexahydrocannabinol).
The Czech Republic, a country ahead of the curve on CBD and cannabis
The Czech Republic has set itself apart within a fairly conservative European Union on issues relating to CBD and cannabis, offering one of the most permissive frameworks on the continent.
In short, Prague allowed a higher THC threshold than the average, along with regulated options for cultivation and possession. Or at least it used to, because things are about to change.
The new guidelines mark a shift, driven by an approach more focused on public safety and on tackling emerging psychoactive substances. The authorities point in particular to difficulties with enforcement and to oversight deemed insufficient.
A tightening driven by intoxicating derivatives
This debate was in fact opened following extensive discussions around HHC (hexahydrocannabinol). This is a synthetic cannabinoid, derived from hemp, whose effects on body and mind over the medium and even long term are little understood and therefore potentially dangerous.
In addition, HHC is said to have an effect broadly similar to that of THC. An intoxicating effect that some consider to be even more potent.
As a result, the Czech authorities believe that this type of substance has contributed to uses that circumvent the existing legal framework. It is worth recalling that, at international level, HHC was classified as a controlled substance by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in 2025.
Concerns for the hemp sector
It is against this backdrop that several professional organisations in the hemp sector have voiced their concerns. They believe the changes being considered could weaken the sector as a whole. Regulatory uncertainty is never good for business, since companies invest less and the market fails to develop substantially.
On the legal front, the Czech proposals come within a European environment already shaped by the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). While CBD is permitted, THC remains regulated and neo-cannabinoids are banned. But each country is free to make its own decisions.
In France, for example, the decision was recently taken to ban the sale of food products high in CBD. A decision that came as a surprise given the speed with which it was taken and applied. Is the Czech Republic following the same path? And what becomes of the country’s status as a trailblazer?