Cannabis regulation in Switzerland: Better than Germany?

The discussion about cannabis regulation in Switzerland is entering a decisive phase. With the preliminary draft of the Federal Act on Cannabis Products (CanPG), a plan is finally on the table that could dry up the black market and effectively strengthen the protection of minors. However, current signals from the cantons of Bern and Aargau give rise to doubts: Are we seizing this historic opportunity, or are we falling back into the old Swiss pattern of perpetual procrastination? Find out here why we could be ahead of the game when it comes to cannabis regulation in Switzerland – if we boldly move forward now instead of putting the brakes on.

The paradigm shift: an end to delay

For years, Swiss politicians pushed the issue away. The result: the black market flourished and control over quality was lost. The new draft (CanPG) finally marks the necessary change of course. It is no longer a question of “if”, but “how”. The aim is a transparent market that protects consumers. But this protection can no longer be delayed. Anyone who slows down now is playing into the hands of the uncontrolled illegal market.

The three pillars: Only possible in an active market

For regulation to work, the law must achieve three goals, according to IG Hemp:

Youth and health protection: through strict prevention.
Combating the black market: through high but realistic quality standards.
A functioning legal market: with fair conditions for Swiss producers.

But we cannot achieve these goals by waiting. A black market is not concerned with the protection of minors. Only a regulated market introduced now can take on these tasks.

Learning from Germany: Do better, don’t wait

Switzerland can do better than Germany,” emphasizes Elias Galantay, President of IG Hanf. But be careful: the chaos in Germany should not be an excuse for a Swiss standstill.

We often hear the argument that you have to wait for all the pilot tests before you act. We see this as a pretextual argument. Of course we have to avoid mistakes and take a close look. But legislation and research can go hand in hand. The pilot studies are underway, data is being collected and evaluated on a daily basis. We already know enough to build a practicable model. Waiting for the “perfect study” while the black market creates facts is not a strategy, but a stalling tactic.

Reality check: The wrong signal from Bern and Aargau December 2025

Bundesgesetz über die Cannabisprodukte (CanPG)

The fact that this delaying tactic is real was demonstrated at the beginning of December 2025, when the cantons of Bern and Aargau spoke out against the current proposal. Their reasoning: They wanted to wait for the final results of the pilot project first.

Political calculation instead of pragmatic solutions? The current hesitation in the cantons of Bern and Aargau seems to us less like a wait-and-see attitude and more like political calculation. Because resistance is also forming at national level. A look at the official position of the SVP Switzerland on the CanPG shows which way the wind is blowing: the party rejects the bill as a “wrong signal”. Its position paper warns that consumption could jeopardize “earning capacity” and lead to “increased dependence on the public purse”. It also doubts that the illegal market would disappear as a result of legalization, as Swiss cannabis is not competitive in terms of price. This fundamental rejection suggests that the referendum remains a realistic option. Waiting for further study results therefore plays into the hands of those who would prefer to stop the project altogether.

In our view, the constant wait for the final conclusion of all studies seems like a pure delaying tactic. The interim results of the pilot projects to date have been consistently positive. Realistically, these data are unlikely to change significantly. Allowing years to pass now ignores the positive facts and only serves to delay the long overdue regulation.

Why price (and speed) is crucial

Another critical point is pricing. IG Hemp warns against weakening the legal market by imposing excessively high taxes. The logic is simple: if legal products are too expensive or the law comes far too late, people will stay on the black market. For the legal market to work, it has to be competitive – and it has to come soon.

Conclusion: Courage to fill the gap instead of an eternal waiting loop

Switzerland has the opportunity to create the best and safest cannabis model in Europe. Strengthening domestic production (“Swiss Made”) ensures quality and sustainability. But “better than Germany” must not mean “later than everyone else”. We call on Bern to use the scientific data on an ongoing basis and not to artificially block the process.

List of sources

IG Hemp Switzerland – Position papers (The three pillars) Position paper on the law on cannabis products (IG Hemp)

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) – Legislation (CanPG) New Cannabis Products Act – Overview and status

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) – Research Overview of ongoing pilot trials with cannabis

Canton of Bern – Political statement Consultation response of the Bern cantonal government (media release)

20min Referendum cannabis vote

FAQ zur Cannabis Regulierung Schweiz

Worum geht es beim neuen Bundesgesetz über Cannabisprodukte (CanPG)?

The law regulates controlled access to cannabis in Switzerland in order to curb the black market and improve consumer protection. It creates a legal framework for production, trade and consumption under strict conditions.

Was sind die Hauptziele der neuen Regulierung?

The three main objectives are more effective youth and health protection, the effective suppression of the black market and the creation of a functioning, legal market. These goals are to be achieved through clear rules and quality standards.

Warum ist die Schweizer Produktion wichtig für das Gesetz?

Strong domestic production guarantees high quality standards, better traceability and more sustainability. IG Hemp is therefore calling for an explicit strengthening of Swiss producers in the law.

Wer ist die IG Hanf?

IG Hemp is the trade association of the Swiss cannabis industry. It represents the interests of the industry and is committed to sensible, science-based regulation and promotion of the hemp sector in Switzerland.

Warum sieht die IG Hanf die Schweiz im Vorteil gegenüber Deutschland?

Switzerland can learn from the regulatory mistakes made in Germany and avoid them. It can also draw on scientific data from its own pilot trials to develop a more practical model.

Wie soll der Schwarzmarkt konkret bekämpft werden?

The black market should be displaced by a competitive legal market that offers safe products. Realistic framework conditions are important here so that the legal route is more attractive to consumers than the illegal one.

Welche Rolle spielt der Preis der legalen Produkte?

The price is crucial, as excessive costs due to incentive taxes would weaken the legal market. If legal products are significantly more expensive than illegal ones, the black market remains attractive.

Was fordert die IG Hanf bezüglich der THC-Grenzwerte?

The limits for THC and the categorization into risk classes should be practical and evidence-based. Unrealistic limits would ignore actual consumption patterns and make regulation ineffective.