Beyond prohibition: innovating psychoactive substance control – the czech way

Our presentation aims to challenge the UN's drug prohibition stance as the primary method of regulating psychoactive substances. It points out the policy's ineffectiveness, harmful impacts, and outdatedness, noting that some substances are not covered by UN or EU regulations, leaving them to individual countries' discretion. We advocate for a new, legal framework for regulating psychoactive substances in non-medical settings, focusing on their possible benefits while managing risks. It recommends strict rules for marketing, safety, and restricting access to minors. The goal is to undermine illegal markets, protect at-risk groups, and promote responsible usage. Highlighting a case study from the Czech Republic, we demonstrate a successful shift in approach by introducing a 'psychomodulatory substance' category, filling the gap left by the UN's prohibitionist policy. It concludes that this approach can be replicated elsewhere, reshaping drug policy to focus on public health, harm reduction, balanced controls, human rights, and overall societal and individual well-being.