You would like to grow CBD seeds yourself in Switzerland, but you are not sure what is permitted and what is not? Don't worry, many people in Switzerland who want to raise their own CBD plants in the garden or in a flowerpot at home feel the same way.
We explain which CBD seeds you may own and plant. The short answer: what matters is the THC content of the plant. In Switzerland, hemp with a total THC content below 1% does not fall under the Narcotics Act.
Quick facts about growing CBD in Switzerland
- The THC content of the plants must be below one percent.
- Neither the BetmVV-EDI nor the FOAG sets an upper limit on the number of plants.
- According to the FOAG, Switzerland no longer has any requirements for variety or seeds.
Planting CBD seeds: what is permitted in Switzerland and what is not?
One basic point first: in Switzerland, the decisive factor for CBD seeds and the plants grown from them is the THC content. Let's take a look at it together.
First there is the well known 1 percent rule. It applies not only to the products that can be made from the plants, but also to the plant itself. So your CBD plants must stay below one percent total THC. Hemp plants with 1.0% or more are listed in directory d of the Narcotics Directory Ordinance (BetmVV-EDI, SR 812.121.11), Annex 5, as of 13 March 2026. You can read more about this in the article THC content below one percent.
Neither the BetmVV-EDI nor the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) sets a fixed upper limit on the number of plants. The FOAG does not regulate hemp cultivation and does not issue cultivation permits.
If you grow hemp as a farmer and receive direct payments, the canton records the hemp area, according to the FOAG without the variety. Whether your canton has further requirements is best checked directly with the cantonal office.
Here again are the key points about planting CBD seeds in Switzerland:
- THC content below one percent
- no upper limit on the number of plants in the BetmVV-EDI and FOAG rules
- no requirements for variety or seeds
Which CBD seeds are permitted in Switzerland?
Since 1 January 2021, the FOAG variety catalogue no longer contains hemp, because the related provisions were repealed in Swiss seed law. There are no import requirements for hemp seeds either. However, a plant passport or phytosanitary certificate is required if you import plants into Switzerland or someone brings them to you from abroad.
According to the FOAG, Switzerland no longer has any requirements for the variety or the seeds. Certified EU hemp seeds are available from seed retailers. In the EU, the limit for subsidised industrial hemp is 0.3% THC (Regulation (EU) 2021/2115), while in Switzerland it is 1%. You can find various genetics in our CBD seeds collection.
CBD hemp vs. THC cannabis: the key differences
We have already mentioned it: the THC content of the plants that grow from your CBD seeds must be below one percent. This brings us to another important point that you should never overlook if you want to plant CBD seeds in Switzerland.
The plants that grow from them must be CBD hemp. In Switzerland, THC cannabis with 1% total THC or more falls under the Narcotics Act. Cultivation and trade are prohibited, with exceptions only under a permit, for example for medical purposes. Here is an overview of the most important differences:
| CBD hemp | THC cannabis | |
|---|---|---|
| THC content | below 1% | 1% or more |
| BetmVV-EDI | not in directory d | in directory d |
| Cultivation | no FOAG permit required, no plant limit in the BetmVV-EDI and FOAG rules | prohibited, except with a permit |
No need to wait: your CBD flowers straight from Green Passion
You don't want to grow your CBD hemp yourself, or you want to bridge the time until you can harvest the first flowers from your plants? In our Green Passion shop you get CBD flowers from proven Swiss cultivation.
Our carefully selected flowers offer you not only full aromas, but also a CBD content of up to 20 percent, and selected products even more. You can choose between CBD flowers grown indoors, outdoors or in a greenhouse. How these growing methods differ is shown in the article CBD indoor vs. outdoor.
We also have CBD pre-rolls ready for you. These are CBD flowers that come already rolled.
Hemp seeds sold as food are a different product from seeds for cultivation. Our guide to hemp seeds explains the difference.
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