The Swiss government has approved plans to legalize the use and sale of marijuana in Zurich in a trial to determine the economic and health benefits of regulating cannabis supplies.
As part of a three-and-a-half-year scientific study starting this summer, 2,100 Zurich residents will be allowed to buy regulated doses of the recreational drug for personal use.
In return, they must answer a questionnaire every six months about their consumption habits and their health.
The project Zuri Can – Cannabis with responsibility is a collaboration between the city of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich.
Barbara Burri, project leader at the City of Zurich Health Department, said: “The idea is to get robust real-world evidence that informs policy-making for new [national] regulations for marijuana.”
A greenhouse at a CBD daikon production company in Switzerland (file photo). As part of a three-and-a-half-year scientific study starting this summer, 2,100 Zurich residents will be allowed to buy regulated doses of the recreational drug for personal use
The Federal Health Service issued its final approval for the trial on Tuesday.
Some European authorities hope to follow American states in liberalizing laws on cannabis use.
In Germany, the government announced plans last October to legalize the drug across the board under strict conditions.
After receiving government approval for the trial in Switzerland, Swissextract and Pure Production AG, the two producers, can now begin growing marijuana plants for use in the study.
The first harvest is expected in July, while hashish products, which take longer to produce and are more difficult to process, are expected to be available in the second half of October, Swiss news website Nau reports.
According to Forbes, a total of 21 student marijuana dispensaries are scheduled to begin selling in August 2023.
The drug will be available to participants at pharmacies, specialty pharmacies and social clubs across the city from July, at prices that can adjust to changes in black market prices.
According to public health surveys in Switzerland, a third of adults have tried the recreational drug.
Of Zurich’s 400,000 residents, an estimated 13,000 are regular users.
Participants can choose from products with different concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the active ingredient in marijuana – and cannabidiol (CBD).
Zurich (archive photo). According to public health surveys in Switzerland, a third of adults have tried the recreational drug
Potential strains will also be available with THC levels of up to 20 percent.
The purity of the products is strictly monitored and they are produced organically by recognized Swiss companies.
“The study will have a broad focus on gathering data on the effects of different strengths of cannabis, to help individuals make informed decisions, and the pros and cons of different sales models,” Burri said.
The study aims to identify the conditions under which the legalization of cannabis in Switzerland can be carried out, along with “promoting individual and public health and safety,” according to the study leaders.
Evidence from the study will be published continuously from next year.
Anyone over the age of 18 can participate in the study, with the exception of pregnant women, professional drivers and people who show signs of drug addiction or health problems due to drug use.
In a 2008 referendum, just over a third of Swiss citizens voted to legalize cannabis, but public opinion has changed dramatically since then.
MPs approved an amendment to the country’s drug law in September 2020 to allow “pilot” legalizations of cannabis.
In the coming months, further studies are planned in Switzerland with universities and public bodies in the cities of Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, Biel, Thun, Olten and Winterthur.
Basel, a city in northwestern Switzerland, launched a smaller version of the effort to legalize the use of cannabis in September.
Zurich finalized the proposals for the program last July.
The move comes as other parts of Europe are rethinking their cannabis regulations in response to a shift in drug policy around the world.
The Netherlands will launch a pilot program for the sale of marijuana in the municipalities of Breda and Tilburg later this year.
Germany could introduce legislation in the coming weeks to greener the use and sale of cannabis.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said last week that the plans had received a “very good response” from the European Commission. He said the bill could be announced late in March or early next month.
This will make it the first country in the EU to allow nationwide commercial sales.
Neighboring countries the Czech Republic and Luxembourg have also proposed plans to legalize cannabis for adult use, while Austria, Italy and Spain will no longer criminalize the possession of small amounts for personal use.
In 2021, Malta became the first country on the block to legalize personal possession of marijuana and allow private “cannabis clubs” where members can grow and share the drug.
Elsewhere, Canada, Uruguay and most recently Thailand have taken steps to legalize cannabis over the past decade.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
