Cannafest in Prague, Czechia, was a huge success and optimism for the future of cannabis was on full display.
Czechia has a long and strong tradition of cannabis culture, and at Cannafest, people from around the globe celebrate and show off their craft. Even on the streets of Prague, there are CBD flower shops everywhere, with as many choices as you can imagine for products with CBD.
However, the medical cannabis market containing THC in Czechia has remained fairly small in comparison to the country’s cannabis culture, and the future was on everyone’s minds at Cannafest.
Czechia’s Cannabis Landscape: Key Stats and Trends
Czechia has a population of roughly 11 million people, and cannabis has been decriminalized since 2010. As one of the earliest European Union markets, medical cannabis gained access through the senate vote in December of 2012, with 61% voting positive and only 3% voting against.
Despite years of political will and a clear majority of acceptance, the medical cannabis market only sold 210 kilograms of THC flower weight in 2023 to 8,000 patients. Nearly everyone I talked to predicted 2024 will be somewhere near 300 kilograms in the total volume of flower sold.
Compared historically, 2023 and 2024 will be big increases from all prior years; however, the fact remains that the current size does not match the progressive cannabis culture and positive political sentiment of Czechia, which was not only one of the earliest cannabis medical markets but also the most progressive to CBD products. It was also one of only a few countries in EU which has openly had serious public discourse for a quasi-recreational adult-use market.
Czechia’s Cannabis Leaders Predictions
Here are the thoughts of several market players about the current and future state of Czechia’s cannabis market.
Nasos Makriyiannis, Corporate Development Director at Motagon Cannabis
Nasos Makriyiannis is one of the co-founders of Motagon Cannabis and a long-time cannabis industry expert who supported the Cannafest cannabis event as a sponsor. Motagon is the leader in Czechia medical cannabis distribution with roughly 25% market share and has also expanded to Poland.
Makriyiannis highlights that under current regulations, only specialists may prescribe cannabis and not general practitioners, limiting patient access since there are only roughly 50 specialist prescribers. Another interesting Czech market factor is that medical cannabis is a 90% reimbursed market and requires navigation through insured cannabis regulations, which caps flower prices at around 5.30 euros (139Kč). There is also a 25% THC cap, as well as some of the toughest microbial-level standards globally.
While extracts exist minimally at present, he believes the market will increase to 15% market share. Makriyiannis hopes that 2025 will bring a more realistic increase in reimbursement flower levels — currently capped at 30 grams per month — and that the adoption of EU specifications on microbial levels will help patients get the amount of flower they need without the need for radiation.
Additionally, Makriyiannis believes that in 2026, it would be beneficial to see general practitioners given the latitude to prescribe cannabis medicines in line with other current EU countries’ recent changes and proposed changes.
Šárka Betke, Commercial Director of SensiQure
SensiQure holds a unique position as one of the few Czechia growers and the distinction of being an indoor cultivator with high-quality genetics that produced Spannabis-winning rosin. SensiQure has traditionally been a net exporter of its high-grade flower but is also prepping its brand for entrance into the Czech markets.
Betke points to regulations as the key to Czechia’s medical market future. Under the current codes for THC and CBD levels in medical cannabis products, there are 120 codes that cannabis can fall under, half of which are flower categories, the other half being extracts. Not only does this create steady supply issues, but it is also difficult for patients, doctors and pharmacies to know what is available.
It is no secret that Czechia has been publicly grappling with the medical cannabis complexities. It would be beneficial if they consider simplifying the coding categories under the long-awaited drafted rules to remove much of the confusion and complexities. Though delayed for months, everyone remains hopeful that 2025 will bring clarity and improved product classification procedures to unlock another phase of market growth.
Yves Antoniazzi, Founder of AstraSana Holding AG
Yves Antoniazzi’s company AstraSana is a powerhouse of CBD in Czechia, Switzerland and global markets. Although AstraSana produces locally, their largest markets served are French CBD flower, followed by German CBD flower and Japanese extracts, which may overtake the first two in the future.
The CBD market is lightyears ahead of medical cannabis regarding access in many countries. Since it’s classified as a novel food product instead of a pharmaceutical narcotic in the EU and elsewhere, this gives AstraSana a considerable edge when investing in future projections.
Antoniazzi leans toward the “recreational” side of all cannabis, including his beliefs in the future of THC products. With his experience in the Swiss adult-use rollout, he brings a unique vision of a future where dispensary-style cannabis products are sold to both patients and adult consumers.
A Bright Future for Czechian Cannabis Progress
Although no one has a crystal ball into the minds of politicians and regulators, Czechia has long been at the forefront of cannabis advancement both in CBD and, hopefully, THC-containing products. Cannafest brought the best Czech and global CBD players, as well as local medical players, to celebrate and discuss the future of Czechia.
There will always be more work to do to open access to patients around the world, and despite things not moving as fast as industry people want, there is a strong majority will in Czechia for regulators to provide safer legal alternatives to their population.
Let’s all root for clearer, common-sense regulations benefiting Czechian patients and the continued success of Cannafest and local operators.
