The Zurich weed experiment begins

Zurich authorities have given the green light to a groundbreaking initiative to assess the potential benefits of legalizing cannabis. Starting this summer, 2,100 Zurich residents will be allowed to buy controlled amounts of the substance at designated pharmacies, pharmacies and social hubs across the city. This trial period serves as a test case to determine the potential social and economic benefits of regulating the sale and use of cannabis.

In collaboration with the University of Zurich, the organizers of the study require participants to complete a survey every six months detailing their cannabis use patterns and associated health effects. The ultimate goal of the study is to identify the most appropriate policies for legalizing cannabis in Switzerland while ensuring that public health and safety remain the top priority. The results of this investigation will be published regularly beginning next year and will provide an ongoing assessment of the study’s progress.

Barbara Burri, project manager at the City of Zurich Health Department, explained that the main goal is to obtain comprehensive and reliable real-world data that policymakers can use to develop new cannabis regulations at the national level. This initiative comes at a time when numerous European nations are re-evaluating their marijuana laws in response to global shifts in drug policy.

Anticipated cannabis success story in Germany

In the next few weeks, Germany, the largest economy in Europe, is expected to introduce a bill to legalize the sale and use of cannabis across the country. This significant legislative move would make Germany the first European Union member state to allow commercial distribution of the drug nationwide, marking a major overhaul of existing laws.

Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s health minister, recently announced that proposed legislation to legalize cannabis has received positive feedback from the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union. He stated that the bill should be announced by late March or early April, suggesting the proposal has been carefully crafted to comply with European law. This announcement follows several months of talks with Brussels over the details of the bill.

Last October, the federal government released a preliminary draft for legalizing recreational cannabis to improve public health. Karl Lauterbach emphasized that the proposals will only reach the Bundestag if they are based on the guidelines of the European Union.

The proposed legislation would redefine cannabis and remove it from the narcotics category. It would also allow people over the age of 18 to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis for personal use. In addition, citizens could grow up to three cannabis plants in their homes, and authorized shops and pharmacies would be allowed to distribute cannabis products.

Regulatory hurdles within the European Union

The federal government faces a delicate balancing act in drafting a bill that meets EU regulations, global drug conventions and public health considerations. In the past, the European Union has taken a cautious stance on legalizing cannabis. Member States must enforce “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” criminal sanctions against the sale of illegal drugs, including cannabis.

Although legalizing cannabis in Germany would violate international agreements such as the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, other countries such as Canada and Uruguay have taken similar steps without significant repercussions.

The Federal Department of Health has not provided CNBC with any specific information about the bill. However, initial reports suggest that the government could release an interpretative statement to show how legalization will help protect minors and prevent illicit drug trafficking. “According to the European agreement, every state must combat the illegal use of cannabis, and the federal government can argue that there is no illegal use because we regulate legal use,” explained Geyer.

Germany’s membership of the Schengen zone, which allows for the waiver of border controls, presents the country with a challenge in legalizing cannabis. The zone currently bans the import of illegal drugs across European borders, meaning Germany must demonstrate it can produce a sufficient supply of cannabis domestically without jeopardizing its neighbors’ drug policies.

A ripple effect

Luxembourg and the Czech Republic, which border Germany, have already proposed legalizing recreational cannabis. Meanwhile, Austria, Italy and Spain have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

In 2021, Malta, the European Union’s smallest member country, made history by legalizing the possession of cannabis for personal use and sanctioning private “cannabis clubs” that allow members to grow and share the drug. Over the past decade, various countries have joined the movement to legalize cannabis. Canada and Uruguay were among the first nations to do so, and Thailand followed suit more recently.

People who meet the admission criteria such as being of legal age and active cannabis use and who have no previous illnesses or are employed as professional drivers can register to take part in the study conducted in Zurich.

Public health surveys show that around a third of Swiss adults have experimented with cannabis. In Zurich, which has a population of over 420,000, it is estimated that around 13,000 are frequent cannabis users. In addition, further research programs will be carried out in cooperation with public and university sponsors in Swiss cities such as Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Biel, Geneva, Olten, Thun and Winterthur in the coming months.

Diploma

Switzerland is making progress in researching and legalizing cannabis. The recent clinical study in Zurich, aimed at examining the effects of driving under the influence of cannabis, underscores the country’s commitment to responsible drug use. With plans for further studies in other cities, Switzerland is taking a cautious and evidence-based approach to legalizing cannabis.

In addition, the high rates of cannabis use among Swiss adults demonstrate the need for policies that promote harm reduction and public health. Switzerland’s efforts serve as an example for other countries looking to legalize and regulate cannabis responsibly.

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