Swiss Greens hope to legalize cannabis within 4 years

In Switzerland Greens are in favour of cannabis legalization for over three decades. Despite numerous setbacks, they hope their efforts will finally bear fruit during the current legislature.

The push for legalization

A parliamentary initiative led by Centre National Councillor Heinz Siegenthaler has been given the green light by the health commissions by the National Council and the Council of States last year. This initiative aims to regulating the cannabis market to protect young people and consumers. The Greens, signatories of the initiative, are considering a controlled market which gives priority to health and safety rather than profit.

«We expect legalization within four years,» says Manuela Weichelt, a member of the Swiss National Council, to Swiss media outlet Watson.

They recommend state-run sales outlets and Cannabis Social Clubs to counter the existing black market. Manuela Weichelt insists on the need for a plain packaging, unbranded, unadvertised and associated with age restrictions to prevent consumption by minors. In addition, the Greens maintain the importance of a strict cultivation regulations to guarantee product safety.

The Greens are proposing a prevention tax to fund counseling and therapy services, as well as addiction research, rather than profit. They argue that legal cannabis will be competitive while maintaining control over production, minimizing the influence of the black market.

Both chambers of the Swiss parliament must now examine the proposed law. The possibility of a referendum, particularly if launched by opposition parties such as the Swiss People's Party (SVP), is also on the horizon. The Greens, for their part, remain determined to see their vision of the cannabis legalization materialize.

Legalization tests

Switzerland has the advantage of having already set up legalization tests in various municipalities. Each test can involve up to 5,000 people, with no limit to the number of pilot tests a municipality can set up. These trials are aimed at people who already consume cannabis and, once they have registered for the trial, can legally purchase up to 10 grams of pure THC per month, i.e. 50g of cannabis at 20% THC.

Pilot tests now operational in Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne and Listal near Basel and the last one is open for registrations in Berne / Biel / Lucerne. Other pilot tests are also due to open shortly.