In 2022 the cultivation of medical cannabis and its sale to patients and export will become legal in Switzerland. The Council of States passed the corresponding law on March 11th, 2021.
In the future, Swiss doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis drugs directly on prescription to their patients.
The Swiss Parliament has approved an amendment to the Narcotics Act. The amendment is now ready for the final vote, but final approval is considered a formality.
Those who are dependent on cannabis medicinal products will, in future, be able to obtain them more easily from their doctors, as both chambers have decided. However, doctors remain obliged to report treatments to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Today you have to obtain an exemption from the FOPH before prescribing.
The Council of States unanimously adopted the amendment to the law. The National Council already agreed in the winter session. Compared to the Federal Council's proposal, he added that the BAG should also collect data on side effects during monitoring. The Council of States agrees with this addition.
The payment for cannabis medicines has not yet been settled, nor has insurance companies' financial contribution.
Export opportunities for medical cannabis
The amendment to the law also regulates the cultivation, manufacture, processing and trading of medicinal cannabis. Swissmedic will be the licensing authority.