Switzerland's first pilot project for the legal sale of cannabis products has been delayed after some of the initial stock failed quality control tests.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Русский
ru
Начало легальной продажи марихуаны в Базеле отложено
The ‘Weed Care’ experiment in the city of Basel was supposed to launch on September 15. But it has been put on hold because traces of pesticides were found in some of the supposedly organic plants.
Basel’s health department said on Friday that the delay could last several weeks or even months as products must now be analysed again by an independent body.
Six cannabinoid products – four types of cannabis flowers and two types of hashish – were due to go on sale in nine pharmacies from next week.
The Federal Office of Public Health approved the pilot scheme in April as part of a project by the University of Basel, its psychiatric clinics and the cantonal health department.
It is intended to help evaluate the effects of new regulations on the recreational use of cannabis and ultimately combat black market distribution.
Pilot sale over-subscribed
Several other local authorities, including Zurich, Geneva and Bern, have also applied to roll out similar trials. The Swiss parliament laid the legal basis for such small-scale initiatives in September 2020.
The Basel pilot, which will allow 370 people to participate in the sale of approved products, is over-subscribed with 700 applications.
Basel health officials will now consider options, including different products from the official supplier or even examining different potential suppliers.
The recreational use of cannabis remains banned in Switzerland but it can be consumed for medical reasons. In 2008, voters rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis consumption.
More
More
Swiss cannabis market – a delicate balancing act
This content was published on
Producing and selling hemp inflorescences with low THC content has been legal in Switzerland since 2017. But the market hasn’t been a gold mine.
Is artificial intelligence an advantage or a disadvantage for workers?
What is your experience with AI at work? Have you already used it? Has it helped you work better? Or has it caused you more stress, more work or caused you to lose your job? Tell us about your experiences!
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Health office approves first Swiss project to sell cannabis for recreational use
This content was published on
The city of Basel is the first to be given the green light by the Swiss authorities for a scientific trial with cannabis for recreational use.
Legal marijuana could earn millions for Swiss state
This content was published on
Some 130 firms have registered with the Swiss federal authorities to sell legal pot that could generate CHF30 million ($30.2 million) in revenue.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.