Cannabis consumption outstrips alcohol in Switzerland

According to a Global Drug Survey of almost 100,000 people, 32 % of those questioned said they smoked at least once a day, while only 12 % said they had a drink every day.

69,000 people reported using at least one psychoactive substance in 2015

Swiss media  «20 minutes» was able to obtain country-specific results. Surprisingly, 46 % of Swiss say cannabis is their drug of choice, well ahead of MDMA (14%) and cocaine (12%). What's more, the rest of the survey shows that 58 % of hard drug users take it only once or twice a year. This use is said to be «controlled or targeted» to a specific occasion.

The Swiss are also experiencing a rise in cannabis use. In 2007, 20% of the over-15s had already consumed weed. This figure is set to rise to over 25 % in the near future. The authors of the telephone surveys reveal, however, that consumption may be underestimated. Indeed, even if tongues are loosening with the democratization of cannabis, there are still few people who would assume to say to an unknown pollster: «I only smoke cannabis, 5 times a week, every morning, just before going to work«.

Ms Maier, from the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Public Health, says that glass is being lost to the joint. Especially among the younger generation, she notes. Speaking to the daily newspaper 20 minutes, she says that only 2% of the under-21s drink alcohol every day, while 26% of the same age group smoke ganja every day.

The Swiss authorities remain concerned about their fellow citizens' use of cannabis. Several pilot projects are due to be tested in the coming months, including the introduction of four cannabis social clubs in the country's major cities, or even give permission to pharmacies in Berne to distribute cannabis to consumers

These actions put Switzerland at the forefront of liberal European countries on the subject.

Caillart Théo