Switzerland to Begin Recreational Cannabis Sales Next Year
Unlike most countries, where the legalization of recreational cannabis is driven by human rights (as in Canada and the U.S.) or the need to combat the black market (as in Uruguay), Switzerland has a different motivation. The Swiss government is legalizing cannabis to conduct the largest cannabis study in history.
Current Cannabis Laws in Switzerland
Switzerland stands out from many other European countries because cannabis is already quasi-legalized there. The laws allow for the cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis with less than 1% THC. As a result, it’s easy to find shops selling flowers, medicines, and cosmetics with high CBD content—these products are both locally produced and imported from neighboring countries.
However, it seems that CBD alone isn’t enough for Swiss residents. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Swiss people smoke about 750,000 illegal joints every day, and the annual volume of illegal sales could reach 580 million Swiss francs (about $650 million USD). This situation is partly due to relatively mild penalties for cannabis with THC above the legal limit—selling it can result in up to three years in prison, while possession without intent to sell is punishable by a fine of 100 Swiss francs (about $110 USD).
The FOPH acknowledges that the ban “makes little sense” and is looking for ways to bring the country’s shadow cannabis industry into the legal market, as long as the decision is backed by scientific evidence.
The Era of Experiments Begins
In September 2020, the Swiss parliament amended the country’s narcotics law to allow experiments with the sale of recreational cannabis for the next 5–7 years.
As part of these experiments, 5,000 certificates will be distributed among citizens who have previously used cannabis, giving them the right to legally purchase cannabis flowers with up to 20% THC or cannabis edibles with a dosage of 10 mg THC per unit from specialized stores. All cannabis used in the experiments will be grown in Switzerland and will undergo strict quality control. Every retail location will have medical staff on site to monitor the health of participants, making this a true research project.
The goal, according to the FOPH, is to “expand knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of controlled access to cannabis and provide a solid scientific basis for possible decisions on how cannabis should be regulated.” The FOPH also wants to study how cannabis use affects various socio-economic aspects of Swiss life, such as productivity, absenteeism, family and social relationships, and more.
Although the amendment took effect on May 15 of this year, the experiments have not yet fully started. The official launch is expected no earlier than August 2022.