Cannabis News
Cannabis news in Switzerland highly positive in August
Since August 1, Switzerland’s new law on medical cannabis will be passed. A ban on medical cannabis was lifted by their Federal Council in June, and there was an amendement by Swiss Parliament to the Narcotics Act in 2021.
Because of this, now medical cannabis patients are able to receive prescriptions directly from medical professionals, without having to request permission from the Switzerland Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
It also allows for the exporting of medical cannabis to other countries, but only in cases where authorised exporters have been approved by Swissmedic, who are responsbile for the authorisation and supervision of therapeutic products.
The Federal Council released this translated press release:
“Up to now, cannabis for medicinal purposes has not been allowed to be cultivated, imported or processed into preparations without an exceptional permit. Treatment of patients with cannabis medicinal products that were exempt from authorization was only possible with an exceptional permit from the FOPH and only in justified cases.”
“The demand for such permits has increased in recent years. This is administratively complex delays treatment and no longer corresponds to the exceptional character provided for by the Narcotics Act. The Federal Council has therefore presented Parliament with an amendment to the law to remove the ban on cannabis for medical purposes, which was passed in March 2021. A narcotic prescription will still be required for such drugs.”
Cannabis news has been highly positive in Switzerland
As it currently stands, recreational cananbis will still be illegal and CBD products will be required to contain less than 1% THC. However, in partnership with the University of Basel, psychiatric clinics and the local government, Switzerland is now on track to launch a cannabis pilot program.
400 people will be legally allowed to purchase cannabis from September for recreational consumption, as long as they also agree to become participants in a two-and-a-half year study with regular interviews to discuss their mental and physical health.
To examine the effectiveness of medical cannabis, a study called “Zuri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility” has applied to the FOPH and Cantonal Ethics Committee. Currently a waitlist of over 2,000 medical cannabis patients are interested in the study, announced in September 2021.
Demand for cannabis news both at home and abroad is constantly on the rise. A consulting company named EBP Switzerland found in another recent study that cannabis legalisation could be valued at $1.03 billion and bring 4,400 jobs.
Head of Policies and Implementation at the FOPH, Adrian Gschwend spoke to MyScience.com:
“The study comes precisely at the right time as the commission for social and healthcare issues of the national assembly has recently started a legislative proposal regarding the legalisation of cannabis. The results show that both the current illicit market as well as a liberal commercial market inflicts costs on the public while individuals generate big profits. We thus need a well-regulated market that ensures both protection for children and adolescents as well as health protection measures.”
