🇨🇭Switzerland Overview
Switzerland commenced its first adult-use pilot project in 2023, and there are currently seven projects in operation in the country, allowing study participants to legally purchase cannabis.
The initial results of the pilot projects have shown that the trials have been operating efficiently with no indications to disruptions or distrubances towards the public and health.
In 2025, a legislative committee provided preliminary approval to draft a plan to legalise adult-use cannabis in Switzerland. Potentially legalising cannabis and establishing an adult-use market in 2026.
🇨🇭 Legalisation
In February 2025, the National Council’s Social Security and Health Committee voted to approve a preliminary draft bill for full adult-use legalisation in Switzerland. The draft would enable citizens to legally ‘grow, buy, possess and consume cannabis’.
Under the draft bill, all sales would be subject to a ‘state monopoly,’ meaning cannabis products would only be available in a ‘limited number of licensed’ retailers. Cannabis would be taxed based on the level of THC content and the form of consumption, with the revenue generated being ‘redistributed via health insurance’.
Citizens would also be permitted to grow up to three female plants, with undisclosed maximum quantities for possession. Canton administrations would retain significant oversight on certain aspects of the regulations in their territory.
An ‘explanatory report’ is now being prepared, ahead of a consultation process set to take place over the summer. If passed, the final version of the law is expected to be implemented in 2026. This would represent the first full commercial adult-use cannabis market in Europe.
🇨🇭 Pilot Projects
In May 2021, a legal framework for adult-use ‘pilot trials’ was implemented in Switzerland, enabling small-scale sales of adult-use cannabis for scientific purposes.
There are currently seven pilot trials in operation, with around 10,000 participants actively purchasing and consuming cannabis in the trials. The maximum number of participants is 5,000 per trial, and participants have a maximum purchasing quantity of 10 grams of THC a month (50-100 grams of flower, depending on THC content).
Trials must examine the impact of different methods of controlled sales on consumers, public health, the economy, youth protection, illicit markets and public safety. All projects must be conducted through public organisations such as universities, research institutes, local authorities and foundations.
These studies are intended to create the basis for the future legal regulation of cannabis.
🇨🇭 Weed Care
Location: Basel-Stadt
Max Number of Participants: 378
Current Number of Participants: 299 (March 2025)
Sales Start Date: 30 January 2023
End Date: January 2027
Organisations:
- Health Department of Basel-Stadt
- The University Psychiatric Clinics
- The Psychiatric Services Aargau
- University of Basel
What is it testing:
How the regulated sale of cannabis through pharmacies compares to the current situation, i.e. the illegal acquisition of cannabis, on the consumption behaviour and health of the study participants. During the extension period, it will evaluate how consumption and mental health change when study participants have to obtain their cannabis illegally.
🇨🇭 Weed Care Products & Prices
The study extension expanded the existing one to include lower-risk products: two e-liquids and two tinctures. Cannabis products for the pilot are produced by Pure Holding AG.
🇨🇭 Weed Care Results
In March 2025, the following interim results of the study were published:
A total of 87 kilograms had been sold. Resulting in approximately CHF 900,000 being diverted from the illicit market. A third of purchased products in the trial had a THC content less than 13%.
89% of study participants want to use their participation to set an example for new regulations, and 84% of participants value the opportunity to purchase higher-quality cannabis products.
79% see the advantage in making cannabis easier and safer to obtain
Although participants were able to purchase legal cannabis, neither the amount of cannabis purchased nor the rate of consumption increased.
🇨🇭 Züri Can
Location: Zürich
Max Number of Participants: 3,000
Current Number of Participants: 2,357 (October 2025)
Sales Start Date: 22 August 2023
End Date: October 2026
Organisations:
- City of Zürich
- University of Zürich
What is it testing:
The health and consumption effects of regulated adult-use cannabis, as well as the best possible ways to distribute cannabis from different points of sale (10 pharmacies, 10 cannabis social clubs, and 1 Drug Information Centre), which promote individual and public health.
🇨🇭 Züri Can Products & Prices
The products for the study are produced by Pure Production AG and SwissExtract. At the beginning of the study, five different cannabis products with varying THC/CBD concentrations were offered, including three flower products and two hash products. This has expanded to thirteen different products, ten flower products and three hash products.
🇨🇭 Züri Can Results
In October 2025, the following interim results of the study were published:
In terms of demographics, 79.5% of participants are male, 19.3% are female, and 1.2% identify as non-binary.
The 28- to 32-year-old age group is currently the most frequently represented in the Züri Can study, accounting for 22.6% of participants, with an average age of around 35 years. Ages range from 18 to 77.
The majority of study participants (54.9%) consume cannabis four times a week or more often. 28.3% consume cannabis 2-3 times a week, 15.1% consume cannabis 2-4 times a month, and 1.7% consume cannabis once or less in a month.
A total of approximately 87,900 sales have been made, amounting to approximately 749 kg of cannabis products in 5-gram packages (equivalent to 149,706 packages).
🇨🇭 Grashaus Projects
Location: Canton of Basel-Landschaft
Max Number of Participants: 3,950
Current Number of Participants: >1,000 (August 2024)
Sales Start Date: 7 December 2023
End Date: October 2028
Organisations:
- The Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF)
- Sanity Group Switzerland AG
What is it testing:
Whether structured and controlled sales of high‑quality, organically grown cannabis by trained sales personnel in dedicated stores can produce changes in use, leading to harm reduction and a reduction in illegal use and associated problems.
🇨🇭 Grashaus Projects Products & Prices
SwissExtract produces products available for the project.
🇨🇭 Grashaus Projects Results
The first 12 month interim results from the Grashaus Projects pilot showed:
Roughly two-thirds of the study participants purchased cannabis almost exclusively in licensed speciality stores, highlighting a decrease of cannabis purchases from illicit channels.
Surveys indicated that study participants were switching to lower-risk forms of consumption, including edibles, oral solutions and vapes.
In the first twelve months of the project, the study participants’ dropout rate was low, which could be attributed to their high levels of satisfaction with the study and their willingness to contribute to scientific research.
🇨🇭 Cann-L
Location: Lausanne
Max Number of Participants: 1,600
Current Number of Participants: 1,396 (March 2025)
Sales Start Date: 11 December 2023
End Date: Summer 2027
Organisations:
- City of Lausanne
- Addiction Suisse
What is it testing:
The feasibility and impact of a model for regulating cannabis through non-profit sales, in non-profit stores, removing the issue of profit, and associated incentives, while focusing heavily on advising participants with health and social objectives.
🇨🇭 Cann-L Products & Prices
The products are cultivated in a secret 10,000 m² greenhouse located in the French-speaking region of Switzerland.
🇨🇭 Cann-L Results
First year results for the pilot were published in December 2024, highlighting the following:
In November 2024, more than 10 kilograms of cannabis were sold, nearly 15% of the monthly volume consumed in Lausanne, representing the equivalent of one million francs.
Study participants range in age from 18 to 80 (average age 37). The majority are men (77%) and are generally employed (67%) or in training (10%). 70% of participants had been using cannabis for more than ten years, and more than half did so every day or almost every day.
The average quantity of cannabis consumed remains stable and more than a quarter of products sold in the form of herbs/flowers have a THC level of less than 10%, which is significantly lower than the illegal market.
38 people spontaneously contacted the referring physician at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) for advice or assistance.
🇨🇭 La Cannabinothèque
Location: Vernier (Geneva)
Max Number of Participants: 1,200
Current Number of Participants: 1,100 (December 2024)
Sales Start Date: 11 December 2023
End Date: June 2027
Organisations:
- The Institute of Sociological Research of the University of Geneva
- Addiction Department of the Geneva University Hospitals
- Association ChanGE
- The Municipality of Vernier
- The Alcohol/Cannabis Prevention Federation (FEGPAC)
What is it testing:
The extent to which a regulated cannabis access programme improves knowledge of the substance and its implications and helps reduce the health and social risks usually associated with drug use. It will also assess the impact on the Cannabinothèque’s (non-profit store) neighbourhood.
🇨🇭 La Cannabinothèque Products & Prices
Currently, there is a range of cannabis flowers and one hash and oil product available to participants.
The products are sold for CHF 9-12 per gram in 3-gram sachets with a range THC and CBD.
The products are cultivated in a secret 10,000 m² greenhouse located in the French-speaking region of Switzerland.
🇨🇭 La Cannabinothèque Results
The University of Geneva published a report for the first year of the study in December 2024, highlighting the following:
The participants are between 18 and 80 years old, from all social categories. 80% of registrants are currently men.
Approximately one-third of customers are under 30, half are between 30 and 50, and the remaining 20% are over 50.
There was an unexpectedly high demand for products with a low THC content (4% is the minimum offered).
🇨🇭 SCRIPT
Location: Bern, Biel & Lucerne
Max Number of Participants: 1,091
Current Number of Participants: 1,091 (March 2025)
Sales Start Date: April 2024 (Bern) & June 2024 (Biel & Lucerne)
End Date: April 2026
Organisations:
- University of Berne:
- Institute of Primary Health Care, Substance Consumption Unit (BIHAM)
- Clinical Trial Unit (CTU)
- Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin (ISPM)
- Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD)
- University of Lucerne:
- Zentrum für Hausarztmedizin und Community Care
- Funders:
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
- Tobacco Control Fund (TCF)
- The participating cities
What is it testing:
The effects of regulated cannabis sales at selected pharmacies on the consumption behaviour and health of cannabis users. Also examining the tobacco consumption related to cannabis consumption.
🇨🇭 SCRIPT Products & Prices
The SCRIPT project is exclusively supplied by Pure Production AG.
Participants will have access to four flowers, two hash, two tincture sprays and two e-liquids.
However, the study organisers did not want to communicate the exact prices for the individual products and stated that the proceeds are intended to cover the costs of the experiment.
🇨🇭 SCRIPT Results
There is little available data on the study so far.
In Bern, where around 700 participants are being recruited, early registrations indicated that participants consist of 80% men, 18% women, and 2% non-binary individuals.
🇨🇭 Cannabis Research Zürich
Location: Canton of Zürich
Max Number of Participants: 7,500
(Group A: 2,500) (Group B: 2,500) (Group C - No Access Group: 2,500)
Current Number of Participants: 3,900 (December 2024)
Sales Start Date: 2 May 2024
End Date: December 2028
Organisations:
- ETH Zürich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute
- University of Zürich, Department of Economics
- Swiss Cannabis Research Association (Funder)
What is it testing:
The social and economic consequences of legalising recreational cannabis use in Switzerland. In addition, the effects of a self-regulation programme for the prevention of excessive cannabis use are to be studied. This involves a randomised controlled trial (RCT). The points of sale include 3 cannabis speciality stores and 8 pharmacies.
🇨🇭 Cannabis Research Zürich Products & Prices
Study participants are able to purchase a range of flowers, hashes, vape cartridges and oral extracts. The products for this study are produced by SwissExtract, Alpina Pharma and Charlie’s Lab GmbH.
🇨🇭 Cannabis Research Zürich Results
There is little available data on the study so far.
Awaiting Interim Results
🇨🇭 Planned Projects
Anecdotally, there are numerous projects currently under consideration by the FOPH.
Two confirmed applications have been submitted in the Italian-speaking southern region of Ticino. One of these, ‘Cannabis in Ticino’, was submitted by TiCann SA and will be conducted in collaboration with the University of St. Gallen and Areté Solutions.
In March 2025, the Ticino Grand Council held a heated debate on whether to support the trials, ultimately voting not to take any active involvement in the trials. The Federal FOPH may still approve these trials, but the council will not provide political, administrative, or logistical support.
Under Swiss law, the FOPH is required to hold a consultation with the cantonal authorities, but local opposition does not necessarily mean they’ll be able to block their launch. A final decision from the federal government is expected in the coming weeks.