Switzerland Will Probably Legalize Cannabis in the Next Four Years

In Switzerland, the Green Party has been advocating for the legalization of cannabis for over three decades. Despite many setbacks, they hope that their efforts will finally bear fruit during the current term.

The parliamentary initiative led by councilor Heinz Siegenthaler was given the green light by the health committees of the National Council and the Council of Cantons last year. The initiative calls for the regulation of the cannabis market to better protect young people and consumers and the repeal of prohibitions. The Greens, who signed the initiative, envision a controlled market that prioritizes health and safety over profit.

“ We expect legalization within four years,” said Manuela Weichelt, member of the Swiss National Council, to the Swiss medium Watson.

Read more about the legalization of cannabis in Switzerland and find the most important cannabis news of the day with the Hemp.im mobile app, available for free for both Android and iOS devices.

The Greens in Switzerland have been trying to decriminalize consumption since 1992

Now the Green parliamentary group in the Federal House of Parliament adopted a position on Friday calling for strict measures to define what the legalization of cannabis in Switzerland should look like.

They advocate state-run dispensaries and Cannabis Social Clubs to counter the existing black market. Manuela Weichelt emphasizes the need to introduce neutral packaging, free from any branding or advertising, combined with age restrictions to prevent consumption by minors. Moreover, the Greens emphasize the importance of strictly regulating cultivation to ensure product safety.

“Home grows and social cannabis clubs should be preferred , but we do not want private sellers and conditions like in some US states, with aggressive marketing, sales of problematic products and an increase in the consumption of high-risk products.” – said Manuela Weichelt in an interview for Watson.ch .

The Greens propose a preventive tax to finance advisory services and therapy, as well as addiction research, instead of focusing on profit from sales. They argue that legal cannabis will compete with the black market in Switzerland while maintaining control over the production process, which will minimize the impact of the black market.

“ Legal cannabis will be competitive. But the biggest advantage is that you know what you are buying,” said Weichelt, referring to the quality of legal products.

Now both houses of the Swiss parliament must consider the proposed law. There is also the possibility of a referendum, especially if it is initiated by opposition parties such as the Swiss People’s Party (SVP). However, the Greens remain determined to see their vision of marijuana legalization come to fruition.

Switzerland has the advantage that it has already introduced legalization tests in various municipalities

Each test can cover up to 5,000 people, with no limit to the number of programs a commune can run. These experiments are aimed at people already consuming cannabis, who, after registering in the experiment, can legally buy up to 10 grams of pure THC per month, e.g. 50g of cannabis with 20% THC.

Pilots are already running in Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne and Listal next to Basel, with the last one open for registration in Bern/Bienne/Lucerne.

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(Featured image by Alin Andersen via Unsplash)

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First published in FaktyKonopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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