Legal cannabis pilot program officially launches in Zurich, Switzerland

In Switzerland, a pilot program entitled “Züri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility” officially started on August 22nd and will run for three years and end in 2026. According to Swissinfo, a multilingual news source based in Sweden, attendees can buy cannabis at 9am pharmacies and six social clubs, but can only consume it in private rooms or at one of the designated social clubs.

The study includes 1,200 pre-approved participants (80% of whom are males between the ages of 18 and 80) who are permitted to purchase legal cannabis. In order to apply, these participants had to meet certain criteria, including residence in one of Zurich’s 12 districts, regular cannabis use for more than a year, good knowledge of German, no work as a professional driver (taxi, bus, etc.) in any capacity and are currently not pregnant. Although the study is ongoing, residents who meet the criteria can still apply to participate.

Participants must select a dispensary, cannabis dispensary or club and cannot change it once selected. Online surveys are regularly sent to participants after purchasing cannabis to examine the impact of cannabis sales, as well as the impact on consumer health. “The study will have a broad focus to generate data on the effects of different potencies of cannabis, what helps individuals make informed decisions, and the pros and cons of different sales models,” said Barbara Burri, project leader for the city’s Department of Health Zurich .

The pilot program was first announced in September 2021, however the program was postponed in October 2022 due to the “complexity of the project with its differences”.[t] Reference points.” However, the program was given the green light in early March this year when the Zurich city government and the Zurich University Hospital approved two cultivators for the program: Pure Production and Swissextract.

Pure Production currently offers two concentrates, Sour Pollen and Lemon Resin, for use in the study. “Today the sale of cannabis products for the pilot project ‘Züri Can – Cannabis with responsibility’ starts,” published Pure Production on Instagram. “As proud partners, we are excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Pure Production AG is honored to offer two distinct hash products and in the near future floral offerings, underscoring our commitment to excellence and quality.”

On the Swissextract website, the company describes its cannabis cultivation operation, which includes 2,500 plants grown in a 1,000 square meter greenhouse. “Three cannabis strains with an ideal cannabinoid and terpene profile were selected for the study: one with the maximum allowable THC content of 20%, one in the mid-range of 12–13%, and one with a very balanced 10% THC content and 10% CBD,” wrote Swissextract. Strain names include Cairo Dessert (Fruit Tartar x Sinai), Apricot Mimosa (Mimosa x Purple Apricot), and Wedding Cake (Triangle Kush x Animal Mints).

New products, including Pure Production’s Jurassic Gold and Grand Marais concentrates and Swissextract’s Super Lemon Haze and Sour Diesel strains, will be available after fall 2023, according to Zurich’s study website.

There is also another Swiss-based study called SCRIPT (Safer Cannabis Research In Pharmacies) which is expected to start this fall. The SCRIPT program was approved in May by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the cantonal ethics committee of Bern and the ethics committee of Northwest and Central Switzerland.

The study is being conducted by researchers from the Universities of Bern and Lucerne and covers the cities of Bern, Lucerne and Biel. “The aim of the study is to examine the health and social effects of a strictly regulated, not-for-profit sale of cannabis in pharmacies,” said SCRIPT study leader Reto Auer. “Our study therefore does not aim to legalize cannabis in the free market – but to address the problems caused by prohibition and the black market and to test possible approaches to harm reduction and strict control of supply and distribution, use-demand for cannabis.”

As of July, the SCRIPT study has received 1,091 applications to participate. A SCRIPT applicant, named ES, is a 40-year-old individual who has been using since she was a teenager. In an interview with Swissinfo, she explained how cannabis has helped treat her menstrual cramps and how it reliably helps her relax after work. “As a conscious consumer, I want to be able to choose what type of cannabis I use,” she said. “As a wine lover, I want to discover the many varieties without being dependent on the black market.”

Swissinfo notes that it took more than ten years for the SCRIPT program to finally start. The last hurdle came in 2021 with the amendment to the federal law on narcotics and psychotropic substances, which provided for regulations for scientific studies.