Prague tourists hospitalized after eating THC candies sold as ‘souvenirs’

Foreign tourists are ending up in Prague hospitals after eating candy-like cannabinoid products sold in central shops as “garden decorations” or souvenirs, according to an investigation by Seznam Zprávy.

Doctors at the Hospital of the Sisters of Charity of St. Charles Borromeo near Petřín told the publication they treat tourists for cannabinoid poisoning several times a month, with numbers reaching five to 10 patients during peak periods.

In one recent case, a Romanian tourist was taken to the hospital by ambulance after eating candy whose packaging claimed it contained 600 milligrams of THC.

She arrived unconscious, nauseous, and vomiting repeatedly and was admitted to intensive care.

A day later, two Italian siblings, aged 28 and 20, were hospitalized after eating similar sweets. Both experienced severe nausea and repeated vomiting, while laboratory tests detected THC in their urine.

Prague emergency services also told Seznam Zprávy that they now respond to cannabinoid intoxications several times a day, with a significant share involving edible products such as candies, jellies, and chocolates.

Foreign tourists make up a large proportion of these cases, particularly in central Prague. Patients have been found in hotels, short-term rentals and on the street.

The products can look almost identical to ordinary commercial sweets. Reporters obtained packages labeled “Trolli Peachieos” and “Trrlli Peachieos Medicated,” both claiming to contain 600 milligrams of THC.

Small stickers on the back of the packages tell customers in Czech that the products are intended as industrial-hemp decorations or for further processing and are not intended for consumption.

At the same time, the packaging carries an English-language warning saying the product contains cannabis and can cause intoxication.

One package contained five gelatin rings, meaning the claimed THC content would amount to 120 milligrams per piece. Experts speaking to the publication confirmed that would be an extremely high dose if the product actually contained that amount of THC.

The State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI) says it has recorded a sharp increase in non-compliant products containing THC and other psychoactive cannabinoids.

Since the beginning of 2026, inspectors have tested 258 samples, of which 185 failed compliance tests because of THC or other prohibited psychoactive substances. During all of 2025, the authority recorded 75 such samples, 63 of which were non-compliant.

The substances detected this year include THC as well as HHC, THCB, 10-OH-HHC and several synthetic cannabinoids.

SZPI says calling a product a “decorative object” does not automatically protect sellers from inspection or liability if the product resembles food.