Europe's First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensaries: Switzerland Greenlights Experimental Sales Project

In a groundbreaking move, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) has granted approval to the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF) and the Sanity Group to initiate a pilot study on the controlled dispensing of recreational cannabis in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. This study, named the “Grashaus Projects,” is set to commence later this year, with the primary objective of understanding the implications of regulated cannabis access. Insights derived will inform potential future cannabis regulations in Switzerland.

Sanity Group, a German entity, is the sole non-Swiss company involved in the Swiss pilot projects. It will start the dispensing process through a store in Allschwil, followed by another one in Liestal.

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The ISGF-Sanity collaboration received the final nod from the BAG after previously securing the blessings of the Ethics Committee Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ) last year. Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, the scientific director of the ISGF, will lead the study, which will focus on the regulated sale of cannabis for non-medical use.

The research intends to document consumption patterns and the subsequent physical and mental health impacts on the participants. Additionally, the societal consequences, especially concerning public safety, will be assessed via collaborations with relevant focus groups, including the public prosecutor’s office.

Prof. Dr. Schaub commented, “The insights gained from the study can contribute to an informed health policy discussion on the responsible use of cannabis and serve as a basis for decisions on long-term regulation.”

Highlighting the importance of the study, Finn Hänsel, CEO of Sanity Group said, “We expect interesting findings from the study – the results will be of international interest.”

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Up to 3,950 healthy adults residing in Basel-Landschaft will be eligible for participation. Once cleared, they will legally procure cannabis at designated sale points for a limited time using a participation card. The study will span five years, commencing in the last quarter of 2023. Interested individuals can learn more about the study through official websites.

Distinctively, the sale of cannabis in this project will not channel through pharmacies or clubs but designated stores, starting in Allschwil. This launch in Allschwil marks the establishment of Europe's first legal consumer cannabis shop. Another branch in Liestal will soon follow, offering an array of cannabis products.

To ensure the quality and safety of the products, all cannabis items will be cultivated organically by the Swiss partner, SwissExtract. Stefan Strasser, CEO of SwissExtract, emphasized its commitment to quality, stating, “We focus on organic quality, ‘Swissness’ and transparency.”

Graphic: Sanity Group (c)