Hemp policy: What's in the pipeline?

The cannabis regulation sub-commission has been in discussion with the administration for three years and has drafted a legislative proposal for a new approach to hemp. The details will follow, but the most important points were listed in the press release.

The new law is to be called the “Cannabis Products Act” and will remove hemp for non-medical use from NarcA. The SGK-N approved a preliminary draft in mid-February 2025 by 14:9 votes with 2 abstentions. An explanatory report will now follow, and the consultation process could start in the fall.

Anyone who cultivates or manufactures cannabis (products) commercially requires a cultivation or manufacturing license from the FOPH. Anyone who cultivates is not allowed to sell to consumers. We already know this principle from the pilot projects.

Anyone who sells cannabis requires a license from the canton. Anyone who sells may not cultivate, produce or import.

The distribution and sale of cannabis is only permitted to adults. There are also many regulations that a sales outlet must comply with. There is probably also a maximum value for the THC content. There are many packaging regulations and no advertising is allowed.

The companies that sell must not be profit-oriented. Any profits must flow into prevention.

No taxes are levied, but incentive taxes. These are reimbursed to the population via health insurance premiums. The amount of the incentive tax varies depending on the THC content and the health risk of the product and can be adjusted on an ongoing basis.

Adults may grow a maximum of three plants in the flowering phase. They are then also allowed to possess hash and weed, although there should also be a quantitative limit here.

Social clubs for joint cultivation appear to have been discussed, but the media release says nothing about this.

Link to the SGK-N media release (February 2025)

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