A new rule in the Czech Republic alters how doctors prescribe medical cannabis starting Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The revised regulations provide patients — including minors — greater access to cannabis therapy. Patients can now get up to a three-month supply at once; general practitioners can prescribe it.
In Czech Republic, patients can now obtain medical cannabis prescriptions quicker from their usual doctor, get up to three months’ supply at once, and — although access has grown — rigorous controls for children still apply. Particularly for sensitive populations like children, the revised policies seek to simplify therapy while preserving safety. Check the official decree for complete information on qualifying criteria and prescribing rules.
Who can now prescribe medical cannabis?
Before April 2025, only about 250 specialised physicians in the Czech Republic could prescribe medical cannabis, creating significant obstacles for people seeking this treatment option. Individuals living in areas with fewer specialists often face long waits and practical issues due to limited availability. The revised rules now allow general practitioners (GPs) to prescribe medical cannabis, significantly increasing access throughout the healthcare system.
Patients no longer have to schedule visits with hard-to-reach specialists just to get a cannabis prescription under this historic move. Rather, individuals may now speak with their usual family physician—a more quick and practical approach that removes pointless treatment delays. The revised regulation not only simplifies patient care by decentralizing prescription authority but also aids in the integration of medical cannabis into conventional treatment choices.
When may medical cannabis be prescribed for children?
The new decree in Czech Republic regulates medical cannabis prescriptions for children under 18. This advances therapy choices, but the restrictions need strict patient safety measures. physician cannabis is only available to children and adolescents in two rare clinical circumstances that require physician supervision.
The prescribing physician must be currently delivering palliative care or have advanced palliative medicine certification. This assures that only end-of-life pain and symptom management specialists can prescribe cannabis to young palliative patients. Second, accredited pediatric oncology or hemato-oncology clinicians can prescribe cannabis to manage treatment adverse effects or illness symptoms under tight supervision.
Adult patients over 18 have more flexibility but stricter controls. Any certified physician with the requisite qualifications can prescribe medical cannabis for diseases listed in the decree’s appendix. We list specific chronic pain problems, neurological disorders, and major illness-related treatment-resistant symptoms. Adhering to the approved conditions list prevents inappropriate prescribing and allows doctors to exercise clinical freedom within defined boundaries.
These pediatric provisions balance multiple layers of expert oversight with expanded treatment options for children facing severe, treatment-resistant diseases. Medical cannabis may treat specific childhood diseases, but specialized involvement ensures patient safety. All prescriptions for pediatric and adult patients must be related to precise medical indications with therapeutic potential, according to the order.
With authorized diseases including chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, severe epilepsy, side effects of cancer treatment (such as chemotherapy-induced nausea), and palliative care demands, the law states that medical cannabis must address a particular health need. The decree’s official annex contains the whole list of qualifying conditions, so guaranteeing that prescriptions stay rigorously controlled and supported by medical evidence.
What was the reason to change in rules?
The Czech government changed the rules to keep safety yet enhance patient access. The method lowers wait times and unneeded specialist visits by letting GPs prescribe cannabis. Strict rules for pediatric use guarantee that only children with severe, qualifying diseases get therapy in the interim.
The revised policies provide patients with several important benefits. First, they let patients acquire prescriptions straight from their usual doctor rather than waiting for a specialist, therefore enabling quicker access to treatment. Prescriptions can now cover up to three months’ worth of medication, which means less frequent pharmacy visits. Finally, although the policies increase access, they also have rigorous safeguards: children can only get medical cannabis under closely monitored conditions, so guaranteeing their safety stays first concern in Czech Republic.
Especially for children, the new law keeps tight controls in place but makes medical cannabis more accessible. Patients with chronic pain, cancer-related symptoms, or other qualifying diseases now have a more direct route to therapy.