Switzerland sells its first grams of legal cannabis for adult use in Basel

Recreational cannabis is now legally on sale in one of Switzerland's largest cities.

The country has officially launched its cannabis pilot project on Monday, In addition, a few hundred selected participants were able to purchase cannabis for adult use in several pharmacies in the Swiss city of Basel.

The Swiss authorities gave the green light to the pilot project last year. In particular, the project aims to improve understanding of «alternative regulatory forms», such as regulated sales in pharmacies, which could form the basis of future legislation, and to study its impact on consumers and the black market.

Cannabis to be sold in pharmacies in Switzerland

In the Basel project, 374 participants who have reached the age of majority and are already users will be able to buy cannabis flower and hashish, all grown and processed in Switzerland, from selected pharmacies in Basel. Over the course of the two-and-a-half-year study, they will be regularly questioned about their consumption and their physical and mental health.

The youngest participant is 18, the oldest 76. The average age is 36. On Monday, the first group of around 180 people were able to buy cannabis products. The second group will start in six months' time.

Program participants will be strictly monitored by government regulators, They are forbidden to share cannabis with anyone outside the program.

Other Swiss cities should soon be joining Basel, including Lausanne or Geneva.

Experimentation under tight control

Vigia AG, a Swiss company that provides tracking and tracing software, has «developed the cannabis dispensary system in partnership with the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) to reliably document product distribution», which in turn «enables cannabis products to be tracked transparently and provides the basis for scientific research.»

«We are in an emerging industry where various legalization paths are currently being discussed. With a structured legalization process, maximum compliance and transparency, Switzerland is leading the way. With our Cannavigia software and the Cannabis Dispensary System, With Vigia, we are providing the various players involved with the tools they need to track and document every stage of the supply chain. We are proud to be part of the Swiss pilot projects and this historic milestone,» said Philipp Hagenbach, Chief Operating Officer of Vigia AG, in a press release.