Bern, July 5, 2022 – Discussions about cantonal pilot projects and a report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) once again show the urgency of regulating cannabis in Switzerland. Switzerland's most important industry association, IG Hanf, has taken a clear stance on this and says: "State regulation can have a positive impact on the quality and purity of cannabis, ensure the protection of young people and prevent problematic consumption through information, advice and assistance."
Various Swiss cities are beginning to implement cannabis pilot projects. For example, Basel, Zurich, Lausanne and Bern, to name just a few. Since the implementation of the pilot projects is regulated at the cantonal level, there are differences in the design. In Zurich, the distribution of cannabis is regulated by pharmacies. Lausanne is relying on the model of cannabis social clubs as distribution points - similar to Spain.
Resistance in the Canton of Bern
In the Bernese government council (canton), however, there is resistance to the planned implementation of the pilot project in the city of Bern. Pharmacies are not the appropriate place for the dispensing of addictive substances, says the motion by SVP Grand Councillor Patrick Freudiger. The motion was approved by the government council. It is now up to the Grand Council to evaluate this political initiative. In the meantime, however, the FOPH has called the government council back. The canton has nothing to say on this, says the Federal Office of Public Health.
Hemp Association: Pharmacy dispensing does not make sense
Even if the IG Hanf does not agree with the arguments of the motioners, it shares the view that pharmacies are not suitable places to dispense cannabis as a recreational drug. Specialized shops with the necessary know-how would be better. The fact that the pilot projects are structured differently depending on the canton is to be welcomed, because they serve to obtain scientific data that can serve as a basis for the debate on legalization. The IG Hanf has drawn up a 10-point plan in collaboration with Sucht Schweiz and Cannabis Consensus Schweiz.
10-point plan for Swiss hemp legalization
The aim of the Hemp Association's 10-point plan is to combine safety and public health with a regionally anchored, responsible and sustainable Swiss cannabis economy. The special features of the federal structure of Swiss administration and politics are to be taken into account and tax revenues are to be generated to finance accompanying measures. More information:
- Protecting youth from the negative effects of cannabis use
- Promote the use of cannabis products with low health risks
- inform consumers about the risks
- Preventing and punishing the performance of certain professional activities under the influence of cannabis
- Limit cannabis in public spaces and cannabis advertising
- Control cannabis production and quality and ensure traceability
- Separate the medical cannabis market from the non-medical cannabis market
- Sale of cannabis products in specialty stores
- Tax cannabis to finance accompanying measures
- Regulate cannabis production for personal use
And what does politics say?
So are politicians who support legalization putting Switzerland's mental health at risk? "No, not at all," says Heinz Siegenthaler, a member of the Center Party's National Council. It is important to legalize cannabis, especially in order to protect health: "This is the only way we can ensure that the end consumer receives a product that has undergone quality control and where it is clear how much THC it contains. With alcohol, the end consumer also knows how much is in beer and how much in whiskey," says Siegenthaler.