Switzerland takes first step towards legalising cannabis

A Swiss parliamentary committee has adopted a draft resolution to ease restrictions on adults using cannabis for non-medicinal purposes, marking the first step towards marijuana legalisation in Switzerland. 

Health committee calls for marijuana legalisation in Switzerland

The draft proposal, which was adopted by the health committee of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Swiss parliament, said that adults in Switzerland should be “accorded a strictly regulated access to cannabis”. It was passed with 14 votes in favour, nine against, and two abstentions. 

As it currently stands, growing, manufacturing, trading or consuming cannabis for non-medical purposes is illegal in Switzerland. Products can only be sold for non-medical use if they contain less than 1 percent THC. Although several Swiss cities and regions have in recent years been running trials to test the regulated sale of cannabis, the vast majority of people continue to purchase the drug on the “black market”.

The commission described this as an “unsatisfactory” situation and said that a controlled market would “better protect public health, strengthen youth protection and increase safety”. The commission highlighted the results of a 2022 survey that found that 4 percent of people between the ages of 15 and 64 had illegally consumed cannabis in the previous month, it said that “cannabis is a social reality” and that legislation must reflect that. 

What would cannabis legalisation look like in Switzerland?

Under the new plan, the legalised sale of cannabis products would be undertaken in such a way as to not encourage consumption and to recognise that cannabis can be harmful to health. Products would be subject to taxes to limit consumption. 

The proposal called for anyone over the age of 18 living in Switzerland to be allowed to “grow, purchase, possess and consume cannabis”. Each person would be allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants for their own consumption, while commercial production would be legalised, but strictly regulated, with high quality standards. Packaging would be neutral and carry warning labels, similar to those on tobacco products. Driving under the influence of cannabis would be banned. 

The committee’s proposal is the first step in what will undoubtedly be a long, bumpy road towards cannabis legalisation: first, a law will need to be drafted, before being put to both houses of parliament for approval. The issue will also most likely be put to a referendum under Switzerland’s direct democratic system.