The House approved rules for dealing with substances such as kratom or cannabis with a low content of the active ingredient THC. The main goal of the parliamentary amendment is to protect children from these substances. Substances with a psychoactive effect are to be differentiated according to their level of risk, only adults will be able to buy less risky substances. According to the amendment, sellers will have to meet various conditions, and a ban on public advertising will apply. The draft is subject to the approval of the European Commission, it will go to the Senate for consideration.
Because the parliamentary debate on the regulation of so-called psychomodulating substances dragged on, the government included HHC and other cannabis derivatives on the list of prohibited addictive substances with effect until the end of the year. Their sale is now impossible and possession of more than a small amount is a crime.
Members of the SPD opposition movement opposed the proposed rules in particular. According to Jan Síla, the amendment will enable the sale of addictive substances in the Czech Republic. Another SPD deputy, Karla Maříková, expected that so-called psychomodulating substances would be banned. “They can have serious effects on the health of users,” he says.
The draft was approved by the lower house with the votes of the government majority. ANO and SPD MPs did not support it. The amendment assumes that there will be two more in addition to the list of prohibited narcotic substances. One will contain so-called classified psychoactive substances with unknown health effects, where all new such substances would fall. Their sale would not be possible and they would first be examined for up to two years before being transferred to another list. Another list would include psychomodulating substances with a low health risk. The classification would be presented to the government by the Ministry of Health with experts from the State Health Institute and the government department of anti-drug policy.
What is kratom
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Kratom Leaf Powder.
Kratom, found mainly in Southeast Asia, is a specific plant that is used for its own sake psychoactive effects. Although it is already known in the area of occurrence since the 18th century, it only starts to appear in Europe in the last two decades. Its main active ingredient is the alkaloid mitragynine, the effect of which is dependent on the dose used. It works at lower doses stimulatingat higher induces conditions similar to the effect of opioidswhich is due to its action on specific opioid receptors.
Source: Czech and Slovak psychiatry
According to the amendment, products with psychomodulating substances could only be bought by adults in specialized stores, where children would not be allowed. Goods should not imitate toys or confectionery. The ban would apply to sales through vending machines. The law sets restrictions for internet sales, mainly the obligation to verify age during sales and delivery. ANO MP Marek Novák did not push through the proposal to make online sales impossible.
“Unlike alcohol and tobacco, it is not allowed to sell psychomodulating substances in a grocery store or drug store. The use of psychomodulating substances can be further restricted by a generally binding municipal ordinance,” the statement of reasons states. Cross-border sales and exports would be prohibited. Export with regulation was unsuccessfully proposed by Jakub Michálek (Pirates). He warned of a possible conflict with European law.
Tags: rules dealing kratom substances
