Earlier this week, the Czech government announced that Zinjich Voboř, the architect of the pioneering cannabis legalization project, would resign in August.
The Czech Republic's national coordinator of drug policy and architect of what is currently Europe's most ambitious cannabis liberalization initiative has agreed to step down from his post at the end of August, but will continue to serve as a government advisor. I plan to stay.
It comes just weeks after he spoke at Cannabis Europe 2024 about the progress made in the Czech Republic during his tenure and suggested the aim was to “regulate addictive products according to their risks” His resignation is a blow to activists across the industry.
But members of Rational Regulation (RARE), a campaign group formed by the voices of the country's leading cannabis stakeholders who work closely with Mr Vobosil, say this will have little impact on the project and that Mr Vovozil as a scientist has communicated its position to the Business of Cannabis. In fact, an advisor would give him the freedom and authority to influence policy.
what happened?
Bobozil served as the country's drug coordinator from 2010 to 2018, returning to the role in February 2022.
Since then, he and his team have put together two pioneering proposals for legislative drug reform in the Czech Republic. One is aimed at regulating so-called “psychomodulating substances,” creating a new category that falls somewhere between the current binary of banned drugs or foods. This is expected to include substances such as HHC.
The second would regulate adult-use cannabis, making it the only project within the European Union capable of promoting a full commercial market, as currently seen in Canada and some US states.
Local news sources said Voboř, already a frequent target of politicians who disagree with his liberal stance on drug policy, offered to resign following backlash over his comments on drug use within the Czech parliament. .
Recently asked by a journalist about traces of cocaine found in a Capitol toilet about a year ago, Bobozil said this was “not surprising” and that it had been a reality for many years. suggested something.
Importantly, he added, what was truly surprising was that politicians representing the Czech people were inadvertently supporting the Russian Mafia by using cocaine purchased on the illegal market. The statement caused a stir in the media.
However, RARE said this internal pressure was just one of the myriad reasons why Bobosir chose to resign, adding that his resignation had been planned for months.
“This is a very sensitive matter for some members of Congress, and they used it against him. But I think his decision to resign was based on this particular incident and situation. is clearly wrong,” said Robert Veverka, president of RARE and publisher of the magazine Legalizace.
new freedom
RARE reportedly had been planning Boboř's departure since last year as it wanted to ensure that it did not “in any way interfere with the planned regulations.”
Bobozil's mandate regarding cannabis reform is “done” after two bills were completed and introduced about two months ago.
“From the moment the bill was submitted to the government agency, his power to influence things from the position of drug coordinator became very limited,” said Astrasana Czech sro managing director and RARE explained Dr. Thomas Liska, a member of the .
“From that moment on, it became more political and about negotiations between different ideologies and different parties and interests. It's a political question, not a professional question.”
Mr Liska argued that his new role as an expert adviser would allow Mr Bobozil to have “less political responsibilities” and more time to develop innovative drug policy.
“What that means is that he can influence things, speak and act in a way that is not possible from the position of a drug coordinator. He was and is a symbol of change in the Czech Republic. ”
He has the support of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who told local media: In the future, he hopes to utilize his knowledge in the addiction field. ”
It is understood that no formal medicines coordinator will be appointed in his place and his work on the project will continue largely unchanged.
In his resignation statement, Bobozil said he was under pressure from powerful lobbyists and the political parties they support, as well as industries that would be hurt if his plans become law, primarily tobacco, alcohol and big pharmaceutical companies. He also suggested that they are facing an increase.
“Last year, I worked on many complex topics and faced pressure from some major industry players,” Bobozil said in a statement.
“Of course, I have always been used to pressure, unfair games, unfair practices or personal threats from individuals and various legal and illegal industries, but the last year has been no less The fear is over.”
This was echoed by RARE's Lukasz Hart, manager of CzechHemp and editor-in-chief of Cannabis magazine, who said: “There's the tobacco industry, there's the alcohol industry, there's the pharmaceutical industry, and there's gambling.” All of these industries fall under the addiction problem. These industries have huge amounts of money behind them, making it very difficult for him personally. ”
