Bern, 21.11.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX - IG Hanf, the trade association of the Swiss cannabis industry, is puzzled by the intention of the Basel-Stadt Health Department to use cannabis from abroad for the pilot projects.
The sale of selected cannabis products (flowers and hashish) as part of the Swiss pilot project "Weed Care - Study on regulated cannabis sales in Basel" could not begin as planned on September 15, 2022. According to study director Regine Steinauer from the Health Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the reason for this was that a small amount of a pesticide not approved for organic cultivation was found in the products intended for this purpose, which the plants in question had absorbed from soil residues.
The media spokesperson for the BS Health Department announced that it is now intended to import cannabis from abroad for the pilot projects.
Lack of understanding in the cannabis industry
It is surprising that those responsible for the Basel-Stadt pilot project have apparently only commissioned a single Swiss producer. In Switzerland, there are a large number of producers who would be able to produce cannabis products under the requirements of the Ordinance on Pilot Trials (BetmPV). The aforementioned regulation states, for example, that cannabis products that are made available as part of pilot trials should be produced in Switzerland according to organic guidelines. In exceptional cases, Swiss products from conventional cultivation can also be used for the pilot projects. The IG Hanf clearly does not see the need to procure goods from abroad, since according to the regulation, production can clearly be covered by producers in Switzerland.
The IG Hanf is against the import of cannabis from abroad
The industry association IG Hanf is clearly opposed to the intention of the Basel-Stadt Health Department regarding the import of THC cannabis. It is important that Swiss producers are considered first, as is also provided for in the ordinance on pilot tests.
Switzerland has a good chance of positioning itself globally as a pioneer and relevant production country for quality in the cannabis sector. It would therefore be counterproductive if the first batches of cannabis products for the pilot trials were to come from foreign production.
board of IG Hanf Schweiz
- Lukas Brunner, Executive Secretary
- E: info@ighanf.ch
- +<span>386 2 229 40 06</span>