Cannabis Regulation in Switzerland: Control Instead of the Black Market?

A recent article in the NZZ am Sonntag has reignited the debate over cannabis regulation in Switzerland. Particularly provocative statements such as “The state is becoming a dealer” are drawing attention. However, in our view, a topic as complex as this—with its socio-political implications—requires, above all, nuance, facts, and a pragmatic view of reality.

IG Hanf also responded to the NZZ article published on August 2, 2026. Their main point: Cannabis is not harmless. The crucial question, however, is whether a strictly regulated market can better control risks than the existing black market.

The Key Points of IG Hanf

In its statement, IG Hanf does not question the risks associated with cannabis. Rather, it calls for these risks to be compared with the conditions of today’s black market.

In particular, the focus is on three points:

• Cannabis use is a reality: A ban does not mean that cannabis is not being used. It is therefore crucial to consider the conditions under which this use takes place.
• Protection of Youth and Public Health: The black market has no reliable age verification, no mandatory declaration of active ingredient content, and no systematic testing for contaminants.
• Control Rather Than Promoting Consumption: The goal of regulation should not be to sell more cannabis, but to make the existing market more manageable and reduce health risks.

We at Herba di Berna share this fundamental philosophy.

Our Position: Cannabis Regulation in Switzerland Means Responsibility

As our CEO Phil points out, the notion that the government would become a “dealer” itself by regulating cannabis falls short, in our view. Switzerland is already taking responsibility for the controlled use of psychoactive substances.

One example of this is the strictly regulated diacetylmorphine-assisted treatment for people with severe opioid dependence. It was first administered in 1994 as part of a scientific study and is now regulated by law.

Pharmacies generally do good and important work within the limits of their capabilities. They possess in-depth pharmaceutical knowledge and can make a valuable contribution, particularly when it comes to medical questions, potential drug interactions, and health risks.

However, it is already becoming clear today that pharmaceutical training alone is not sufficient to ensure expert counseling on cannabis. Specific knowledge about cannabis, its various products, and the different methods of use is, in some cases, still not being adequately conveyed. Participants in the Swiss pilot programs generally report positively on legal and regulated access, but some are critical of the counseling provided.

There is often a lack of in-depth practical knowledge, properly trained staff, and detailed advice on products, dosages, effects, risks, and methods of use. In addition, important accessories for lower-risk methods of use—such as suitable vaporizers—are often not available in the product lineup.

Added to this is the lack of a cultural connection to the plant. For many people, cannabis is not just a medicine or a recreational drug, but part of a culture and a personal way of life. This includes knowledge about strains, cultivation, quality, flavors, methods of use, and responsible consumption. This connection cannot be conveyed solely through a medical or pharmaceutical perspective.

Meaningful regulation should therefore not be limited to dispensing cannabis through pharmacies. Pharmacies can play an important role in ensuring a steady supply. At the same time, there is a need for specialized cannabis retail stores with qualified staff, in-depth practical knowledge, and a genuine connection to cannabis culture. Both models can complement each other effectively, provided that binding quality standards, counseling standards, and training standards are in place.

If you’d like to learn more about Switzerland’s political journey, check out our article ” Cannabis Legalization in Switzerland 2026 ” for more information.

Cannabis Regulation in Switzerland: Don’t Downplay the Issue, but Discuss It in a Balanced Way

Regulation must not be allowed to trivialize cannabis. In particular, early and regular use, as well as highly potent products with high THC content, can pose health risks. Prevention and the protection of minors must therefore remain central components of any potential regulation, and the approaches to addressing these issues must be discussed in greater depth.

At the same time, cannabis should not be viewed in complete isolation from other psychoactive substances. A look at alcohol illustrates this clearly: According to current figures from the Federal Office of Public Health, problematic alcohol consumption in Switzerland results in annual societal costs of approximately 2.8 billion Swiss francs. Of this amount, the Swiss economy loses 2.1 billion Swiss francs in productivity because the labor market loses vital resources due to illness and death. An additional 215 million Swiss francs are attributable to law enforcement costs incurred by the police and the judiciary. The number of alcohol-related deaths also remains alarmingly high, with comprehensive federal studies indicating that approximately 1,500 to 1,600 people between the ages of 15 and 74 are affected each year.

These enormous costs and health consequences for society as a whole are often simply accepted as part of everyday life. We do not intend to pit alcohol against cannabis. Rather, this illustrates why risks should be discussed objectively and using comparable standards.

We therefore advocate for strictly regulated cannabis distribution and an age limit of 21. In our view, a legal market should not be geared toward selling the strongest possible products, but rather toward prevention, transparency, and more responsible use.

Anyone who buys weed should know what they’re getting—they shouldn’t have to take a chance. After all, we don’t go to a bar, order an alcoholic drink, and hope it’s a glass of beer instead of vodka.

What do the Swiss cannabis pilot programs show?

In this context, the latest results from the Swiss pilot studies are particularly interesting.

The Federal Office of Public Health, in collaboration with the University of Lausanne and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland, analyzed data from seven pilot studies involving approximately 10,500 participants.

The result is remarkable: Despite easier legal access, cannabis use among participants did not increase. At the same time, the FOPH has observed a trend toward lower-risk forms of use. Targeted counseling can therefore, for example, encourage the choice of products with lower THC content or alternative consumption methods.

It is important to put this into perspective: The participants in these studies are people who already use cannabis. The results therefore cannot simply be generalized to the entire Swiss population.

However, they provide the first concrete evidence from Switzerland regarding what happens when cannabis is sold not on the black market but within a regulated system.

Currently, the FOPH lists eight approved pilot projects, including CanLeg in the canton of St. Gallen, as well as projects in Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, Basel, Bern, and other regions. The comprehensive evaluation conducted to date, however, is still based on seven pilot projects.

Why Specialty Stores Could Play a Role in Cannabis Regulation in Switzerland

This is precisely where we see the importance of specialized stores. With our CBD flowers, we see every day just how important transparent product information and personalized advice are. Customers should be able to understand the origin, quality, and ingredients of the products.

This transparency begins right at the production stage. Anyone interested can find more information about the plant and its production on our blog about CBD cultivation.

Different consumption methods and the appropriate CBD accessories are also part of objective counseling. Not all users smoke. Many opt for vaping with a vaporizer or prefer an oil-based product. This is precisely where pharmacies often reach their limits. We’re already seeing that professional training in pharmacies doesn’t necessarily include thorough instruction on different consumption methods. While participants in the current pilot programs report very positively on legal access, they often rate the counseling rather negatively. There is often a lack of in-depth knowledge on the subject, a shortage of trained staff, and essential accessories are simply not available in their product range.

The black market cannot reliably provide such advisory structures anyway. We have already described in detail the additional risks that can arise there in our article on the cannabis black market.

Our CEO’s Conclusion

“The alternative to regulation is not a Switzerland without cannabis. The alternative is today’s black market—without reliable age verification, without mandatory labeling, without quality control, and without counseling. We should be discussing these two real-world models. Not whether cannabis is harmless, because it isn’t. That is precisely why we advocate for strict regulation and an age limit of 21.”

Phil, CEO of Herba di Berna

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