Medical use of magic mushrooms to become legal in Czechia from 2026

Starting in 2026, patients in Czechia will be able to access therapeutic psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) under a new criminal law amendment that legalizes its medical use under strict conditions.

The measure is intended for cases where conventional treatments , such as antidepressants, do not work, and experts say it could benefit patients with depression and other conditions.

The change comes amid growing global interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies, which have shown promise for treatment-resistant mental health conditions. In Czechia, the rollout is expected to affect a limited number of patients initially, but the legal shift represents a significant step for mental health treatment.

Implementation will follow guidelines prepared by the Psychiatric Society of the Czech Medical Society J. E. Purkyně. These protocols specify which medical professionals may administer psilocybin and under what circumstances.

Therapeutic sessions will use synthetic psilocybin and require highly trained staff. Each session typically lasts six hours and involves two qualified therapists, who hold both psychiatric certification and specialized training in psychedelic therapy. Currently, there are only a few dozen specialists in the country, located mainly in Prague and Brno.

The exact date for the law to take effect is to be determined as health officials negotiate with insurers for coverage. Costs per therapy session could reach tens of thousands of Czech crowns due to the duration and required staffing.

Jiří Horáček, director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ) in Klecany, emphasized that broader access will depend on these discussions with insurers. “It is hard to imagine this treatment being available only to patients paying out of pocket. That would simply be unacceptable,” Horáček told Czech News Agency.

According to health officials, antidepressants work for roughly 70 percent of patients, leaving others for whom psychedelics may provide an effective alternative. Psilocybin’s effects can manifest quickly, unlike antidepressants, which may take one to two months to show results.

Horáček noted that psilocybin may also help treat psychiatric conditions for which no other therapy exists, such as depression accompanying cancer diagnoses. Patients must also meet health prerequisites, such as controlled blood pressure, before beginning treatment.

Initially, only dozens of patients per year may receive treatment, but Horáček said the long-term potential is significantly higher. Until now, access was restricted to clinical studies. Health authorities are expected to finalize funding arrangements with insurers before the program expands.

The Czech initiative aligns with a broader international trend exploring psychedelics in mental health care, particularly for treatment-resistant depression and trauma-related conditions. Countries such as the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe have already begun integrating similar therapies under medical supervision.

Experts caution that successful adoption will depend on careful regulation, training, and monitoring to mitigate risks while maximizing therapeutic benefits. Patients and healthcare providers are advised to follow updates from the NUDZ as coverage decisions are finalized.