Switzerland facilitates access to medical cannabis

The Swiss Council of States has said yes to medical cannabis, after following the Federal Council's proposal with 42 votes in favor, 0 against and 0 abstentions. The Swiss narcotics law will thus be amended accordingly, and medical cannabis will be able to be prescribed directly by Swiss doctors.

Better prescribing of cannabis

The voted amendment to the law will facilitate access to medical cannabis treatments. Responsibility for treatment with medical cannabis will now lie entirely with doctors, who will benefit, as will patients, from a reduction in bureaucratic hurdles.

This amendment allows us to better exploit the potential of cannabis as a medicine. Here are the specific changes:

• Prescribed medical cannabis now counts as a controlled and regulated narcotic. The cultivation, processing, production and trade of medical cannabis are subject to Swissmedic's authorization and control system, like other narcotics used for medical purposes (e.g. cocaine, methadone, morphine).
• Attending physicians do not need to apply to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for exceptional authorization for treatment.
• Nevertheless, prescribing physicians are required to provide the FOPH with information on treatments during the first few years following the entry into force of the amendment to the law. The aim is to monitor trends in the prescription of cannabis-based medicines and to understand their effects. It serves as a basis for the scientific evaluation of the revision, as well as an orientation aid for the responsible enforcement bodies and prescribing physicians.
• Commercial export of THC cannabis for medical purposes now authorized

The use of cannabis for non-medical purposes remains prohibited. Experimental cannabis distribution for adults was voted in September 2020 by the Swiss Council of States. The National Council will have to approve or reject this proposal before the pilot project is finally launched.