Canton Zurich to launch controlled cannabis sales in early May

In recent years, Switzerland has become a testing ground for cannabis regulation. Several towns and cantons have launched pilot projects to evaluate the effects of controlled sales. From Basel à Lausanne, and now in the canton of Zurich, these initiatives aim to provide information on the potential benefits and challenges of the cannabis legalization.

Pilot project in the canton of Zurich

The latest initiative in this field is the pilot project due to start on May 2 in the canton of Zurich. Aiming to involve 7,500 participants in 34 towns, this pilot project is the most extensive study to date of its kind in Switzerland. Led by the Swiss Cannabis Research Association, in collaboration with the University of Zurich and the KOF/EPF Center for Economic Research, this project aims to explore the many facets of the cannabis use, of its production and sale within a regulated framework.

As Paul-Lukas Good, President of Swiss Cannabis Research, The study is scheduled to last five years and cost 1.4 million Swiss francs. The scientific evaluation will be carried out by the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, under the aegis of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (SFOPH), in order to gather the field data needed to inform decision-making. policies future on cannabis.

Key elements of the study

Participants in the pilot project in the canton of Zurich will have legal access to cannabis products at pharmacies and points of sale. Three variants of cannabis will be available, differing in their levels of THC of 15%, 9% and 6%.

The study will involve three separate groups, each comprising 2,500 people. While two groups will have access to legal cannabis, the third will serve as a control group, continuing to purchase products on the illicit market. This configuration will enable researchers to compare results between different cohorts, and highlight the effectiveness of regulated sales channels.

Scientific objectives and expected results

Examining the social, economic and health implications of the cannabis legalization is at the heart of the study's objectives. Andreas Beerli, from the Center for Business Cycle Research (KOF) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, stresses the importance of assessing health outcomes. By analyzing consumption patterns and societal trends, the researchers aim to determine whether regulated sales contribute positively to public health, while mitigating the harm associated with illicit markets.

In addition, the study seeks to elucidate the wider societal impacts of the cannabis regulation, including its influence on consumption rates and market dynamics. The insights gained from this comprehensive analysis will provide policy-makers with valuable elements to guide future legislative frameworks and public health interventions.