Medicinal Cannabis Plants and In Vitro Cultivation as a Next Step for Standartized Production

The cultivation of medicinal cannabis is rapidly developing in the Czech Republic, with more than ten years having passed since the first patient prescription. The Faculty Hospital of St. Anne's in Brno was the first state hospital to prescribe medicinal cannabis, with chronic pain and its variants being the most common indications. To expand patient care, the hospital’s International Clinical Research Center (ICRC) has initiated in-house production of standardized cannabis products.
The main pharmacologically active components of cannabis plants are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In 2024, the first two batches of medicinal cannabis were produced: a high-THC variety (16% THC, up to 0.1% CBD) and a balanced variety (6% THC, 6% CBD). Production is closely monitored at each stage, from the genetic background of plant material to environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, photoperiod, and CO2 levels.
An important step towards full standardization is the introduction of tissue culture propagation in vitro. This method enables precise and efficient seedling production, better planning, and significant cost savings by reducing the need to maintain large numbers of mother plants. Furthermore, in vitro techniques allow for long-term preservation of genetic material and recovery from pathogens, which represent an increasing challenge in intensive indoor cultivation.