Switzerland: National Council facilitates access to medical cannabis

Swiss patients suffering from chronic illnesses should soon be able to obtain medical cannabis more easily, following the tacit adoption of a motion facilitating access to it by the National Council. In particular, the motion aims to enable doctors to prescribe medical cannabis.

3,500 Swiss people are currently being treated with therapeutic cannabis, but face numerous administrative hurdles, as well as the very high cost of the treatment. Doctors also have to show that no other treatment has been effective.

Last July, the Swiss government instructed Health Minister Alain Berset to facilitate access to medical cannabis, particularly for pain relief. The question of reimbursement for cannabis-based treatments was also raised.

Pilot projects back on track

At the same time, the National Council voted 98 to 92 in favor of four motions calling for time-limited scientific studies of cannabis use. The Council of States has yet to decide on the possibility of such studies. cannabis legalization pilot projects which have been facing a political battle since 2016 and have been turned down several times.

«The current law does not protect young people. As long as cannabis remains prohibited and research forbidden, we'll have trouble reaching young people with problematic consumption,» explained Alain Berset. «It's not a question of legalizing cannabis, but of authorizing research.

Cannabis consumption by adults would remain prohibited, even though it is already decriminalized below 10 grams.

Around 200,000 people use cannabis in Switzerland. Pilot projects lasting up to 5 years would be aimed at 5,000 volunteers already using cannabis, and would concern only certain communities or groups of communities.