Cannabis Regulation in Germany and Switzerland Shows Early Benefits of Legalization Models

In Italy, cannabis evokes fear and prejudice, while in Europe the effects of government experiments on the phenomenon are being evaluated.

Germany is now Europe’s largest laboratory for cannabis regulation. From April 1st, 2024, adults can grow and possess it, as well as participate in Cannabis Social Clubs. Free sale or transfer is not permitted. This is therefore a prudent, non-commercial legalization, very different from the Canadian model or that of several US states.

The first evaluation phase analyzed the cannabis market, consumption, public health, and crime

The most significant finding concerns young people: consumption among 15- to 17-year-olds, which was already declining before the reform, has not increased since. Even among adults, there has been no statistically significant increase. There are no alarming signs regarding perceived availability or risk perception. The catastrophe predicted by prohibitionists simply hasn’t happened.

The reform, however, had an immediate effect: cannabis-related crimes plummeted, and approximately 100,000 users were not prosecuted or charged. Fewer prosecutions, fewer wasted public resources, and less stigma.

The legal market still doesn’t absorb all demand. Home cultivation is growing, medical access is increasing, but clubs—also due to cumbersome regulations—are still few and unevenly distributed. The illegal market remains, and criminal networks continue to operate. This doesn’t demonstrate the failure of legalization: rather, it shows that reform requires time and sufficiently accessible legal channels to eliminate the illegal supply.

In Switzerland, trials have begun in Basel, Lausanne, Zurich, Vernier, Bern, Biel, Lucerne, and some municipalities in the cantons of Zurich, Basel-Landschaft, and St. Gallen. The models vary—pharmacies, shops, social clubs, and drug-checking centers—but all are subject to scientific verification.

The initial findings are consistent: legal access has not increased consumption, the monthly amount of the active ingredient (THC) purchased has remained stable, and no significant problems with public safety or order have been reported. Many participants have completely or largely abandoned the illegal market, and interest in less harmful consumption methods, such as vaporizers and oils, as well as products with less THC, is growing.

The most mature trial is in Basel. After three years, Weed Care has recorded a reduction in problematic use and cannabis smoked with tobacco, while the quantity purchased has not increased. Participants’ self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety have also decreased. In Lausanne, the results are even more striking. Consumption has decreased by an average of 20%, especially among heavy users.

The products are generally less potent than illegal ones. Cann-L covers a fifth of the city’s consumption and is thought to have diverted two million francs from the black market. In Zurich, the intercepted turnover is estimated at approximately 7.5 million francs. In Vernier, the Cannabinothèque has integrated into the neighborhood without the feared security consequences, while in Basel-Landschaft, illegal purchases have reportedly halved.

Of course, the participants do not represent the entire population, and many projects still require a full evaluation. But the available data confirms that market governance is possible: it allows for better regulation of cannabis consumption, strengthening urban order and security, and protecting public health.

Switzerland is currently discussing a national law based on regulated access, health protection, and a market not geared toward profit maximization. Because leaving cannabis in the hands of drug mafias remains the riskiest option.

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(Featured image by Elsa Oloffson via Unsplash)

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