Switzerland fully legalises medicinal cannabis

Philippe Reich, partner, and Tiziana Hongler, associate, supported by Tanya Adams and Anna Bachmann at Baker McKenzie in Zurich, investigate a significant development in modernising Switzerland’s legislation on cannabis

On August 1, 2022, Swiss National Day, Switzerland’s revised Narcotics Act (NarcA) entered into force. The revision aims at facilitating medical treatments and improving research and development of cannabis.

Prior to the revised law, patients and physicians had to apply for special authorisation from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) if they wanted to access cannabis for medical purposes. The amendment will allow numerous patients safe and timely access to cannabis medicines as part of their treatment regime.