In May 2021, the Swiss Federal Assembly changed the Narcotics Act (BetmG) to allow pilot projects for the controlled distribution of THC-containing cannabis for "recreational purposes." The goal of these pilot projects is to create a scientific basis for future cannabis legislation. The legal change, based on Article 8a of the BetmG, has a clearly scientific aim. So, these scientific pilot projects are being carried out in specific places and for a limited time. The new legal framework is set to apply for 10 years for now – until May 2031.
The pilot projects start in 2022 and are run not by the federal government itself, but by interested municipalities, cities, or universities. The cities of Zurich and Basel reacted quickly to the new law and are already preparing pilot projects. In Zurich, pharmacies and clubs could apply to take part in the "Züri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility" pilot project until the end of 2021. Basel, whose project is planned for 3 years, wants to start selling cannabis in pharmacies in mid-2022. According to nau.ch, other cities and municipalities are also getting ready to launch pilot projects. Each study is limited to 5,000 participants. In our CBD shop, you can already legally buy CBD oil and flowers.
The exact process of the pilot projects goes like this: First, the study management of each pilot project selects cannabis growers and producers who could supply the cannabis. These can be producers of medical hemp and/or legal CBD hemp. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), it’s even possible that hemp pioneers from the 80s and 90s, who often grew cannabis illegally until now, could be brought in under strict supervision for the pilot projects. Overall, several tons of cannabis will probably be needed for the pilot projects. Also, whenever possible, the cannabis products used must be Swiss-made and meet the rules of Swiss organic farming.
After the applications from cannabis producers are approved, the study part of the pilot projects begins. First, study participants are recruited who have to meet certain requirements. Participants must be adults and must already be proven cannabis users. They also have to live in the canton where the pilot project is taking place. Participation can be withdrawn at any time. As part of the studies, participants can get up to 10 grams of THC-containing cannabis per month. The pilot projects are scientifically monitored, and the study management has to report to the BAG every year about how the pilot is going and about the amounts given out and stored. The results of each project have to be documented in a research report. The BAG is required to publish these reports regularly. The scientific monitoring and publication of the reports is especially important with a view to any possible change in the law.
With these pilot projects, Switzerland is taking another step toward researching and possibly legalizing cannabis. This puts Switzerland in line with a trend in North America and Western Europe, where THC-containing cannabis for "recreational purposes" is already allowed in several countries.
Basel was the first city to allow sales. Read more about it here.
Source:
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/gesund-leben/sucht-und-gesundheit/cannabis/pilotprojekte.html
https://www.nau.ch/news/europa/in-der-schweiz-wird-cannabis-ab-2022-legal-verkauft-66048381
https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/bag-pilotprojekte-wer-liefert-das-verbotene-cannabis
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