In a first for European drug policy, doctors in the Czech Republic will be able to prescribe magic mushrooms for medical use from 2026.

New regulations will be introduced from January 1, 2026, allowing psilocybin – the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms – to be used for therapeutic treatment.

According to Radio Prague International, the Czech Senate approved this major drug reform alongside looser restrictions on cannabis possession and growth.

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From 2026, psilocybin can be used medically to treat depression and other mental health illnesses in lieu of other treatments that a patient might not be responding to.

Possession of drugs for personal use and the cultivation of plants and psychoactive mushrooms in small quantities are currently “excluded” from criminal prosecution in the Czech Republic.

Czechia will be the first country in Europe to legalise psilocybin for therapeutic treatment. Speaking to Radio Prague International, former national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil, called it a “step forward”.

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"I would have liked to see more. Still, I can’t say I’m not happy, because we’ve taken a step forward,” he said. “It took years of hard work, much of it mine, so I’m glad something has happened.”

"I was hoping for a more open approach. I wanted a regulated market. In terms of cannabis, we’ve at least de-penalized home growing. Still, if we want to shift from a black market to a legal framework, we need a regulated market. That’s the next step.”

Over the years, several studies have supported the use of psilocybin for treating severe clinical depression and PTSD, finding that patients can see improvements in symptoms for up to three months.

*Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on *Twitter