Quality problems delay start of controlled cannabis sales in Basel

The «Weed Care» pilot project in the city of Basel was supposed to launch today and understand to supply 370 people with cannabis for 2.5 years. It was put on hold because traces of pesticides were found in some of the supposedly organic plants.

The Basel health department stated that the delay could last several weeks, even months, as the products now need to be re-analyzed by an independent body.

Six products—four types of cannabis flowers and two types of hashish—were supposed to go on sale in nine pharmacies starting this week.

Participants will be able to legally purchase these six products during the pilot project – Credit Pure Holdings AG

The Federal Office of Public Health has approved the pilot project last April as part of a project led by the University of Basel, its psychiatric clinics, and the cantonal health department.

It should allow for the evaluation of effects of the new regulation on recreational cannabis use and, in the long term, to combat black market distribution.

Several other local authorities, including Zurich, Biel, Geneva, and Bern, also put themselves forward as candidates to conduct similar trials. The Swiss Parliament laid the legal groundwork for such small-scale initiatives in September 2020.

The Basel pilot, which will allow 370 people to participate in the sale of approved products, received 700 applications.

The Basel health authorities will now consider options, including other products from the same supplier or other suppliers.