Czech association offers hemp seeds for therapeutic purposes

Prague, Jan 30 (CTK) - The Czech Legalizace.cz (Legalisation) association has started offering free hemp seeds to people who want to grow marijuana for their own treatment, the association told CTK.

Within the "Seeds to Seniors" campaign, the NGO wants to highlight therapeutical effects of marijuana and call for the legalisation of this soft drug for medical purposes.

Marijuana has been applied experimentally, for instance, for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

"We are fully aware of that unauthorised handling of hemp containing over 0.3 percent of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol narcotic) is illegal at present. We inform all applicants about the risks connected with the cultivation and possession of curative hemp/cannabis," said organiser Robert Veverka, from the association.

The organisation criticises the situation in the Czech Republic where hemp is unavailable for ill citizens who want to use it for medical purposes. It claims that this approach is at variance with citizens' right to health.

"This si why we call on the government to legalise hemp (marijuana) for therapeutic purposes and protect all Czech citizens who could use hemp to attenuate or remove their suffering from fines, arrest and prosecution," Veverka said.

The association will deliver hemp to all people who send an envelope with a valid postage stamp along with an affidavit saying they intend to grow hemp for their own treatment only.

The association wants to attract interest of experts in drug problems and doctors.

Its chairwoman Hana Gabrielova says more and more elderly people have turned to the association as they want to know where they can get hemp for therapeutic purposes.

The organisation has held this campaign for the third time.

"We have sent overt one kilo of hemp seeds all over the Czech Republic and enabled hundreds of people to simply acquire their own curative herb instead of buying overpriced hemp of unknown quality on black market," Gabrielova said.