Swiss Parliament authorizes the cultivation of medical cannabis for Switzerland and export

A parliamentary motion calling for a change in Swiss law to authorize the production of cannabis for domestic medical use and for export took place last week. According to our information, the Swiss Federal Council has already made progress on the bill, which was scheduled to be voted on during the current parliamentary session, though that session has been put on hold due to the coronavirus.

The bill aims to lift the ban on cannabis exports and also to facilitate access to medical cannabis for Swiss patients. Currently, only 3,000 patients have access to legal medical cannabis in Switzerland—a fraction of those who actually use cannabis to alleviate their symptoms. Cannabis prescriptions are issued sparingly by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), and the products are expensive, costing several hundred Swiss francs per month. Estimates suggest that nearly 110,000 patients obtain cannabis illegally to alleviate their medical conditions.

In the future, general practitioners may be able to prescribe cannabis directly, without going through the FOPH. The law could take effect as early as mid-2021, although it is unclear how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the legislative process for the bill.

Currently, the cultivation of cannabis containing more than 1% of THC is subject to special permits intended for limited medical use, scientific research, and drug development. The cultivation of Hemp with a THC content of -1% is, in turn, widely permitted. The produce is consumed locally or exported to neighboring countries such as Italy and France.

With regard to cannabis, the country has been trying for several years to implement a pilot program for the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults. Last December, The National Council voted in favor of the bill. In February, one of the parliamentary committees was along the same lines. The bill still has to clear the Council of States before it can become law.