Switzerland: vote in favor of easier access to medical cannabis

In parallel with pilot programs for the controlled distribution of cannabis, passed last September, Switzerland is also seeking to make it easier to access medical cannabis by allowing general practitioners to prescribe it without prior authorization.

Last week, the National Assembly’s Public Health Committee approved, by a vote of 22 to 3, an amendment to the Narcotics Act proposed by a Federal Council proposal tabled last year.

Cannabis has been illegal in Switzerland since 1951, but the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) may issue permits on a case-by-case basis to doctors acting on a patient’s request. In 2019, nearly 3,000 authorizations for medical cannabis were issued, leaving many patients to obtain it on the black market.

«Given the high number of applications for this type of authorization, the committee and the Federal Council believe that the current system is no longer adequate. In fact, patients with chronic illnesses sometimes have to endure long waits,» the committee said. in a press release.

To facilitate access to medical cannabis, the Federal Council proposes lifting the current ban on cannabis in the Narcotics Act, without changing the prohibition on non-medical use. The Council also proposes to «allow the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes, as well as the manufacture, preparation, and sale of cannabis-based medicines, subject to authorization by Swissmedic,» the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products.

A few amendments have been proposed, some aimed at ensuring stricter controls, others at making access even easier. The issue of reimbursement for cannabis-based medications has not been addressed, which could also limit prescribing if reimbursement is not available.