Shortly

• Only natural cannabis products should be available to consumers on the regulated market.
• Synthetically produced, psychotropic cannabinoids should only be used in medical products or for scientific purposes.
• The approval of synthetic cannabinoids would undermine the credibility and level of protection of the legal market.

Restriction to natural cannabis in a regulated market

The Swiss Hemp Association explicitly advocates that only natural cannabis be made available to consumers in a regulated market. This includes plant material in its original form as well as extracts obtained directly from the plant. Synthetic cannabinoids, on the other hand, should only be permitted for scientific purposes and medical applications.

Why limiting to natural cannabis is essential

Synthetic cannabinoids as defined in the Narcotics List Ordinance (BetmVV-EDI) can entail a multitude of unforeseeable risks that represent a significant burden for both consumers and the healthcare system.[1]

• The definition of synthetic cannabinoids is controversial (see below), and regulation is virtually impossible. Their approval would undermine the credibility and level of protection of the legal market.
• The substance groups of synthetic cannabinoids have hardly been researched: their pharmacological effects, interactions and risks are not sufficiently scientifically documented.
• Synthetic cannabinoids sometimes have extremely high potencies, which can lead to unpredictable effects such as seizures, psychosis or circulatory failure.
• The chemical structure can be easily modified, resulting in the constant creation of new variants that are unregulated and difficult to identify even for laboratories. 
• The restriction to natural cannabis not only serves to protect health but also enables easier control and traceability along the entire production chain.
• The call for a restriction to natural cannabis is supported by evidence from regulated markets.[2]

Synthetic cannabinoids are already listed as individual substances in the Narcotics List Ordinance (BetmVV EDI, positions 265 and 303). In the BetmVV-EDI, cannabinoid mimetics (such as Spice, etc.) are erroneously referred to as "synthetic cannabinoids." This error in the legal system demonstrates the complexity of the issue and must be remedied without delay.

Phytocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids and cannabinoid mimetics

A phytocannabinoid is a naturally occurring chemical derived from plants (especially cannabis) that influences the endocannabinoid system in the body.

Synthetic cannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant but are not extracted from the plant, but rather produced through synthesis. Synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., synthetic CBD) are often used in the pharmaceutical industry because they guarantee a high-quality, pure, and homogeneous product.

Cannabinoid mimetics, or cannabinoid receptor mimetics, are synthetically produced chemical substances designed to act on the endocannabinoid system in the human nervous system. However, unlike phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids, they do not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and therefore cannot be classified as cannabinoids based on their chemical structure.

Definition of natural cannabis

A precise and consistent definition of cannabis is essential for dealing with the cannabis plant and its products. This definition forms the core of any regulatory framework and creates clear guidelines for a market to be regulated.

The definitions of cannabis should be limited to natural cannabis [3] be restricted and include all products derived directly from the plant and not containing fully synthetic cannabinoids or cannabinoid mimetics. This clear demarcation creates transparency and minimizes the risks associated with the proliferation of synthetic substances.

Conclusion

Only natural cannabis products should be permitted for recreational use. Synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids pose high risks, are difficult to regulate, and undermine the credibility of the legal market. Their use should be limited to medical and scientific purposes, with a clear distinction from cannabinoid mimetics.

[1] See German Bundestag, page 10, Health risks of consuming cannabis and other drugs

[2] A report published in 2024 Report The National Academies of Sciences in the USA recommend that Congress clarify the definition of “hemp” in order to prevent the marketing of products containing potentially harmful synthetic cannabinoids.

[3] See Appendix 1 Position paper IG Hanf on cannabis regulation – IG Hanf Switzerland