Category: Politics

The IG Hemp writes: “The reality of the black market in cannabis today undermines the central objectives of the four-pillar policy: the protection of minors cannot be enforced, product quality and product information are not guaranteed, and users are exposed to unnecessary health risks.” We agree: only regulated specialist stores with a clearly defined mission […]

THC legalization Switzerland – Why this topic is so important to us At Herba di Berna, we are not just lovers of hemp – we stand for responsible handling, transparency and quality. Whenever there is movement in cannabis policy, we get excited. The current development on “Cannabis Legalization Switzerland 2025” is no exception. We say: […]

At first glance, the terms “cannabis”, “CBD” and “youth protection” hardly seem to be compatible with each other. Particularly in political debates, it is often emphasized that legalization would facilitate access for young people. However, a look at international studies – particularly from the USA and Canada – reveals a surprisingly different picture. Modern legalization […]

A summary of the article about CBD edibles and their legislation in Switzerland by IG Hemp Edibles with CBD, i.e. edible products with cannabidiol, are currently causing a stir. Edibles are being tested in pilot projects in Switzerland– unlike in Germany, where they are banned due to the protection of minors. But what exactly is […]

When we talk about cannabis legalization in Switzerland, we always have something new to report. We are happy to tell you about the milestones for cannabis regulation in Switzerland. The Siegenthaler Initiative has just set a new milestone for the Swiss hemp population. The important step in Swiss hemp policy has reached another milestone. The […]

The Bundestag recently discussed a motion by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in a topical debate. The parliamentary group is calling for the withdrawal of cannabis legalization regarding CBD and THC. The CDU/CSU is highly critical of the partial legalization that has been in force since 1 April 2024 and has announced that it will revoke […]

Can the cannabis law be abolished so easily? According to Peter Homberg, a complete abolition of the Cannabis Act is rather unlikely. In his assessment, he explains why legal and political hurdles are making a U-turn in cannabis policy more difficult. Cannabis law abolition Homberg assessment?The political race remains exciting and is running at full […]

In Switzerland, several pilot projects on the regulated sale and consumption of cannabis have been underway for some time with the aim of collecting data for a possible new legal regulation. These projects enable study participants to legally purchase and consume cannabis for recreational purposes in a controlled setting. For example, the largest cannabis trial […]

Who consumes CBD in Switzerland? – Insights from a national survey In recent years, interest in CBD has grown enormously in Switzerland and Europe. Many consumers are discovering the positive effects of the natural active ingredient extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. Awareness of the potential benefits of cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is growing […]

With the entry into force of the Consumer Cannabis Act (CanG) in Germany, the way cannabis is handled has changed dramatically. The law permits the possession and consumption of certain quantities, cultivation for private use and provides for reduced penalties after the fact. We see similar developments in the USA, where mass pardons have restored […]

Herba di Berna takes a look behind the scenes of the global narcotics market

A step into the future In recent decades, the debate about the legalization of cannabis in Switzerland has intensified. The Green Party actively campaigned for legalization 30 years ago. In their position paper, the Greens take a clear stance on what any legalization should look like. Members of the Green Party have been involved in […]

After a long wait, the draft bill for the CanG, the – presumably – future cannabis law in Germany, has made it to the Bundestag. The bill aims to take the first steps toward a legal cannabis market – ideally as early as early 2024. What is in the cannabis law now? Oracles about the […]

IG Hemp, 10.10.2023 (As a member of IG Hemp we distribute this post in our blog) Following the listing of several substances with a suspected psychoactiveeffect in the Narcotics Schedule Ordinance in spring 2023[1]On October 9, 2023, at the request of Swissmedic, the FederalDepartment of Home Affairs (FDHA) inspected a further 10individual substances and one […]

At the end of September 2023, the National Council again expressed its support for the concerns of “PI Siegenthaler”. Parliament has approved an extension of the deadline needed to draft a new cannabis law. If things continue to go smoothly, the new regulation of the cannabis market (also called legalization 😉) could thus become a […]

Driving on the road after cannabis consumption – what actually applies? And how does that work with CBD hemp? Unlike alcohol, the rules that apply to cannabis on the road are not yet part of general knowledge in Switzerland. There are well-known principles (“No drugs at the wheel”). However, these are only moderately helpful when […]

The last few weeks, a new ruling by the Federal Court has been the talk of the town. The highest court ruled that an unpunished amount of cannabis (<10g and exclusively for personal consumption) cannot be seized by the police. This is another step towards the decriminalization of cannabis. In principle, less criminalization of consumers […]

It has already been confirmed several times by the Federal Court that possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis does not constitute a criminal offense.[1] It was previously unclear whether the cannabis could be confiscated by the courts. This issue was clarified by the Federal Court on June 19, 2023. Contribution of IG Hemp, […]

In May 2023, the University of Bern’s cannabis pilot project was approved by the Federal Office of Public Health and the cantonal ethics committees concerned. Under the name “SCRIPT – The Safer Cannabis Research In Pharmacies randomized controlled Trial”, the health and social effects of regulated cannabis sales will be investigated in the cities of […]

Since the summer of 2021, it has been clear that pilot trials on the legal use & sale of cannabis will be conducted in Switzerland. Despite the widespread interest, which is reflected among other things in a large media response, our patience is being tried. In Basel, the start of the “WeedCare” pilot trial planned […]

What legalization would bring economically is hardly discussed. However, the topic offers plenty to talk about. The possible legalization of cannabis brings many different issues to the table. Discussed are the health effects, forecasts of changes in consumption, prevention, consumer protection, repression, and political feasibility. A study has finally been published on the financial advantages […]

This summer, the topic of cannabis was regularly taken up by the media. The focus was on the so-called pilot tests. These allow the dispensing of cannabis containing THC, currently in the form of flower or hashish, as part of scientific projects. We reported more than a year ago on how the legal basis for […]

At the national level, slow progress has been made with regard to cannabis legalization. Now the canton of Solothurn is signaling that more could happen: On 6 September 2022, the cantonal parliament sent a state initiative to the federal government in Bern.The canton of Solothurn is calling for the legalization of the cultivation, trade and […]

The impending introduction of mandatory denaturation for hemp oils poses major problems for the cannabis industry. In the last post, we described the problem in more detail and also mentioned some possible solutions.It is now also clear how Herba di Berna will proceed with the CBD hemp oils. CBD oils as cosmetics instead of chemicals […]

Media release of IG Hemp, July 5, 2022 As a member of IG Hemp, Herba di Berna reproduces here the latest media release of the association: Discussions about cantonal pilot projects and a report by the UN Office onDrugs and Crime (UNODC) once again demonstrate the urgency ofregulating cannabis in Switzerland. Switzerland’s most important industry […]

The U.S. House of Commons passed the Marijuana Reform Act this spring, which would legalize cannabis nationwide. Things are also moving in Switzerland: In Basel and elsewhere, preparations for pilot tests on the legal sale of cannabis are in full swing. The canton of Solothurn is calling for a carefully crafted new regulation, i.e. legalization, […]

It pays to keep at it. After interventions of the hemp industry, the Federal Council holds that also cannabis resin (pollinate) is regulated with the 1% limit. Cannabis resin containing less than one percent THC thus becomes a marketable product. The amendment is expected to take effect in the summer of 2022. How it came […]

At the beginning of February, the Association of Cantonal Chemists of Switzerland (VKCS) went public with a media release on CBD-containing foods. The communication left the hemp industry in no good light: 85% of the products were objected to and 73% were even criticized as posing a health risk – without further specification. Important for […]

There has been a lot happening in the cannabis legalization space in recent weeks. Legalization suddenly seems quite a bit more tangible – both in Switzerland and in Germany. What just happened, and what does it mean now? In Switzerland, cannabis policy took a big step forward in the Health Committee of the Council of […]

At the beginning of July 2021, the FOPH published the results of a population survey on cannabis at a media briefing. The aim of the survey conducted by Sotomo was to know the attitudes of the voting population at the time of the launch of the pilot tests . Does the chosen path meet with […]

Anyone wishing to enter the trade and production of cannabis products in Switzerland must first take an in-depth look at the applicable legal basis. This is a very laborious exercise, as one is faced with a large and confusing collection of laws that affect and regulate various aspects of economic activity in different cases. When […]

Some time ago, National Councilor Heinz Siegenthaler (center) submitted a parliamentary initiative (PI) calling for far-reaching new regulation of the cultivation, production, trade and consumption of cannabis containing THC. With this demand, the initiative, which was co-signed by about 40 parliamentarians, is based on a recommendation of the Federal Commission on Narcotic Drugs. In April, […]

Following a meeting with IG Hemp, Council of States member Thomas Minder (no party affiliation, SVP parliamentary group) submitted a postulate in March calling for a report from the Federal Council outlining how various aspects of the hemp plant can be economically exploited. On the basis of these findings, it will be explained how they […]

After the Council of States unanimously approved a bill to amend the Narcotics Act (BetmG) with regard to cannabis medicines at the beginning of March, the bill passed through the National Council relatively uncontested. This amendment is intended to finally facilitate access to cannabis medicines. Until now, physicians had to obtain a special permit from […]

In the European Union, natural full-spectrum CBD has also been approved as a cosmetic ingredient since the beginning of March 2021. Whereas previously only synthetic CBD was explicitly permitted, the formulation was extended to include herbal products as part of a revision of “CosIng”. The CosIng is a database of the EU, which contains cosmetic […]

On March 31, 2021, it became clear that pilot cannabis dispensaries could be approved by the FOPH starting in mid-May. Following the National Council and the Council of States, the Federal Council also approved this amendment to the Narcotics Act, which is intended to provide new insights into health and consumption patterns in the context […]

In the final vote of the spring session 2021, the National Council and the Council of States approved business 20.060 of an amendment to the Narcotics Act. This provides that the cultivation and medical prescription of medicinal hemp may be prescribed in the future without an exemption permit from the Federal Office of Public Health […]

No more exemption permits needed for prescribing cannabis by physicians. The National Council has facilitated the medical use of hemp products with an amendment to the law. The large chamber of the federal parliament approved today, Tuesday, the proposal of its health commission to allow the medical prescription of cannabis without an exceptional license. In […]

Two positive decisions on cannabis bode well for international cannabis policy. European Court of Justice: CBD is not a narcotic drug After we reported last time that the EU Commission is considering making all hemp extracts – including natural CBD products – subject to narcotics law, a decision by the European Court of Justice now […]

While on the one hand a lot of educational work is happening around the topic of hemp and cannabinoids, new scientific findings on the benefits of hemp and hemp extracts are being obtained, the EU Commission is currently considering including hemp extracts in general in the narcotics law. Cannabiniol (CBD) as well as any other […]