Swiss legislation on cannabis

Cannabis Distribution

What about the distribution or sale of cannabis in Switzerland?

It is illegal, fundamentally, although things are changing. As laws are constantly evolving, the status of cannabis may change, especially given the current trends in this area.

Indeed, several initiatives are being implemented to move from total repression to controlled cannabis consumption. For example, there are cannabis clubs in Geneva, Basel, Zurich, and Bern. This initiative dates back to 2013. What does it entail? Approximately 2,000 people are authorized to consume cannabis. This product is derived from aggregated crops. That said, what are the main objectives of this project? Firstly, to help young people addicted to this substance. They could now consume it, but within a strict and controlled framework.

Secondly, the initiative also aims to deal a significant blow to the black market. Indeed, many people in Switzerland are making large sums of money illegally from this substance. This project therefore presents itself as a potential complement to existing regulations.

As in France, not everything related to hemp is illegal. In fact,

products with a THC content of less than 1% are authorized in Switzerland. Therefore, therapeutic, cosmetic, and even edible cannabis are indeed available. Users take advantage of its various benefits as they wish. Moreover, and very recently, the Swiss Federal Court indicated that CBD, and in particular CBD flowers, should not be taxed as a tobacco product: this reinforces Swiss consumers’ belief in the benefits of this molecule. A vote in favor of legalizing cannabis for the Swiss The initiatives mentioned above have begun to bear fruit. Indeed, the Swiss Health Commission of the Swiss National Council, the Swiss Chamber of Representatives, voted on Friday, April 30, in favor of legalizing cannabis for the Swiss.

It believes that despite the prohibitions, “consumption is high, the black market is booming, and user safety is not guaranteed.” This could well become a historic event for Switzerland. Why? Because the vote puts the country at the forefront, compared to others in Europe. This initiative was spearheaded by Mr. Heinz Siegenthaler. In reality, it was voted on by a narrow margin, if we refer to what our source highlycapitalized.com says.

The National Council’s Public Health Committee voted 13 to 11 (with one abstention) in favor of the parliamentary initiative proposed by Representative Heinz Siegenthaler. Essentially, the aim of the legislation is to regulate the cannabis market in Switzerland, rather than continuing to prohibit its use by adults.

In short, with this vote, Switzerland could become the first European country to authorize a legal cannabis supply chain for adults, according to a report by the Swiss media outlet Zürichsee-Zeitung.

However, several steps remain before reaching the actual legalization phase. The bill now goes to the Swiss Senate (the Council of States). In this regard, it is worth noting that this proposal to legalize cannabis in Switzerland has several characteristics. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health states that it was conducting scientific research trials on cannabis with consumers. What was the purpose of these trials? In fact, the goal is to provide “a scientific basis for future cannabis regulation.”

From this perspective, trials will be conducted in parallel with the ongoing legalization process. Our source describes them as follows:The Swiss trial includes 5,000 registered participants who have previously used cannabis illegally. The trial program follows an amendment to the Federal Act on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, approved by the Swiss government last September. The adopted regulations provide a legal basis for conducting scientific pilot trials on cannabis.

The Swiss government is nevertheless requiring several conditions for these trials. These include the cannabis being organic, produced in Switzerland, and containing no more than 20% THC. Similarly, the packaging used will follow the Canadian model. This model ensures that the products are child-resistant, include safety warnings, and that the cannabinoid content is clearly labeled.

If the project is adopted, Switzerland will become the first country in Europe to authorize a legal cannabis supply chain for adults. In doing so, it could also surpass the United States in legalizing cannabis at the federal level.