Switzerland: 400 Basel residents can legally consume cannabis

The city of Basel will be the first Swiss city to allow some of its residents to legally use cannabis. Starting at the end of the summer, 400 Basel residents will be able to buy cannabis flowers and resin at pharmacies, even though cannabis remains a «illegal substance» within the country. This special exemption will last two and a half years.

The cannabis will be supplied by Pure Production, a company based in the canton of Aargau in northern Switzerland. It has held a government research permit since 2020.

In this German-speaking city, participants must be of legal age, use cannabis regularly, and reside in Basel. The authorities are looking for «average» users. They must also agree to be monitored by doctors. This authorization to use cannabis legally is, in fact, a full-scale scientific study.

That is the whole purpose of a pilot project approved by the Swiss government in April 2021. A political soap opera that has been in effect since 2016. The authorities want to observe « »The Effects of Regulated Cannabis Sales on the Consumption Behavior and Health of Cannabis Users", states the canton of Basel-Stadt in a press release. The 400 participants will therefore serve as test subjects for this study.

A «basis for discussion» for future legalization

The authorities are therefore not giving people carte blanche to use cannabis with complete peace of mind. On the contrary, users will be closely monitored. They « will be regularly surveyed about their cannabis use and their physical and mental health« .

Following Basel’s lead, other Swiss cities are considering launching their own pilot programs. Geneva, the country’s economic capital, as well as Zurich, the second-largest city, could follow suit. If these studies prove successful, the federal government could consider legalizing cannabis nationwide. « »These findings should help lay a solid foundation for a discussion on responsible cannabis policy in Switzerland.", ", the canton continues.

The country is already a leader in cannabis regulation. In terms of health, the medical use of the plant is authorized on a case-by-case basis. As for hemp and CBD, Switzerland allows the sale of varieties containing up to 1 % of THC. This is for now the highest rate in Europe, where other countries on the continent set the limit between 0.3 % and 0.6%.