Shit happens - this is experienced every day by over 100 THC-users in Switzerland. That is why this brochure is unfortunately still necessary. In 1996 we brought out the first Shit happens, 22 years later now this 11th edition of our legal aid brochure. During this time, hemp prosecution became more and more absurd and increased almost from year to year: in the number of cases and in the amount of penalties.
Nevertheless, repression has not been able to eradicate the phenomenon of smoking pot. Instead, it creates daily injustices and a black market with many negative consequences for the users as well as for the whole society: a market worth billions without security, without quality control and without transparency.

As long as cannabis use remains illegal, as long as every joint can be punished, as long as today's narcotics law with its harsh penalties continues to exist, we want to educate about hemp repression:
So that everyone gets an impression of how the legal provisions read and are then implemented by the police and public prosecutor - and what heights of fines and fees the prosecution of cannabis can reach.
With this brochure, with consultations and our collected summary penalty orders, we can also provide assistance with legal problems.

But ultimately we would like to change the existing Swiss NarcA, to achieve a different, reasonable, legal handling of hemp. Internationally, there is a lot going on: Maybe this will provide impulses to end the miserable drug war in this country as well and to develop something more sensible. The legalization of hemp is feasible.

In the spring of 2018, a number of proposals are pending in parliament that call for a change in the current situation. On the one hand, the basis for a trial operation with cannabis is to be made possible by a revision of NarcA, on the other hand, a hemp law is demanded, which is to be formulated analogously to the legislation on spirits. In preparation is also our cannabis initiative, with a similar demand. But:

As long as today's NarcA with its comprehensive prohibitions is in force, it means to be very careful if you appreciate THC enjoyment. Because: Shit happens.

The association Legalize it! has been active for over 28 years. We had different phases and experienced a lot: from the foundation in 1991, in the middle of the time of the open drug scenes and the discussions about syringe and heroin dispensing, to the special boom of the “scent bags” from the mid-90s and the official discussions about decriminalization, which the National Council buried in 2004 - in parallel the smashing of the hemp stores until about 2005. In this year also the zero tolerance in road traffic was introduced. Later the vote on the hemp initiative in 2008, the introduction of the fixed penalties in 2013, the hemp seed prosecution in 2015 and the discussions until 2017 whether a penalty-free quantity is really penalty-free.

Eleven editions of the legal aid brochures have been published in these years, countless legal consultations have been provided, 80 Legalize it! magazines have been produced, a variety of information events and member meetings have been organized, and parties have been celebrated.
Since 2016, a working group of our association has been working with other interested parties to build up the necessary foundations for a popular initiative on the topic.

What we have achieved so far has been made possible by the active help of our members, their membership fees and donations. If you have resources (time, money or know-how) that you would like to use for the goals of our association Legalize it! please contact us (see above).

Details about our club, the board and the responsibilities can be found on the club page.

Besides the private members, these organizations and companies support our association Legalize it!