Then the public prosecutors in individual cantons started to fight the stores properly and tightened the screw. They were supported by the Federal Court, which in a landmark decision in 2001 greatly simplified the prosecution of hemp flowers.

During the raids, computers and machines for packaging the perfume were also increasingly confiscated. In addition, account freezes were ordered. Then professional bans were pronounced, which means that the accused store owners were not allowed to have anything to do with hemp, otherwise they were threatened with immediate imprisonment. Very stubborn store owners, who insisted on running a legal store even after the umpteenth raid and in turn accused the investigating authorities of illegal activities, were sometimes put in custody for several days to months.

This had a strong impact on many hemp businesses, some stopped, others went underground. Finally, the repression - nicely staggered - had arrived in all cantons. Today, there are no more hemp stores. This Swiss specialty is history. The trade has gone underground.

Many trials against hemp sellers have taken place - and many traffickers have been sentenced. The accused employees of hemp stores were punished with a few months, owners of smaller hemp stores received up to one year imprisonment. Those who made a living from it (i.e. were convicted of trafficking) received at least 12 months in prison. The larger traffickers and hemp producers then received up to 18 months in prison. These sentences, which for most of them were first sentences, were conditional. This means that you do not have to serve the sentence, but it is two, three or four years to see if you relapse (and only then the sentence is enforced, otherwise it expires).

Some defendants have also received unconditional prison sentences, mostly because they had already received conditional sentences (for hemp and other things). After the first trial, many defendants were still in a second, sometimes even a third and fourth trial, because they continued to do business after the first trial. Here, the sentences were 18 to 48 months - and often unconditional.

The hemp farmer Rappaz from Valais received the highest sentence so far: He now has to serve a total of six years and eight months (after the second, more recent verdict). So this is one of those unconditional prison sentences to which mainly repeat offenders have been sentenced (and of course continue to be sentenced).

The smoking continues, the selling continues - business as usual. So the investigating authorities only enable cannabis products to be sold again without paying taxes. Because nobody is stupid and keeps an accounting, just so that the law enforcement agency can immediately prove the whole turnover and you get a higher fine. The prices have increased significantly and the quality has decreased significantly. On the other hand, cocaine is cheaper than ever and the abuse of drugs is spreading… Was this the goal of the repression?

But then individual cantons began to take the matter rather loosely and effectively let the stores have their way, while in other cantons the public prosecutors really wanted to fight the stores and tightened the screw. They were supported in this by the Federal Court, as we see in the part about court rulings.

During the raids, computers and machines for packaging the perfume were then increasingly confiscated. Account freezes were also ordered. Then occupational bans were pronounced, which means that the accused store owners were not allowed to have anything more to do with hemp, otherwise they were threatened with immediate imprisonment. Very stubborn store owners, who insisted on running a legal store even after the umpteenth raid and in turn accused the investigating authorities of illegal activities, were sometimes put in custody for several days to months.

This had a strong impact on many hemp businesses, some stopped, others went underground. Now the repression - nicely staggered - has arrived in all cantons. There are no more official hemp stores. The trade has gone underground.

In general, it can be said that hemp prosecution is not (anymore) the first priority for the investigating authorities. The stores are pursued, but depending on the canton, in the second or third priority. If one has time, one makes sometimes a raid, if the prosecutor pushes, the district attorney makes again a push. But without real enthusiasm. And that leads, right across Switzerland, to a great deal of uncertainty. While some had already become rich and had long since handed over their store, others had a raid and a trial on their hands before they could even sell a single sachet of perfume.

Many trials against hemp sellers have already taken place and there are many more to come - and many traffickers have already been sentenced and more sentences will follow. Repression is moving through the country like a slow but levelling steamroller. The accused employees of hemp stores are punished with a few months, small store owners get up to one year. Those who have made a living from it (i.e. are convicted of trafficking) get at least 12 months in prison. The larger dealers and hemp producers then get up to 18 months in prison. These sentences, which for most of them are first sentences, are conditional. This means that one does not have to serve the sentence, but it is looked two, three or four years whether one relapses (and only then the sentence is executed, otherwise it expires). So far, only a few defendants have received unconditional prison sentences, mostly because they had already received prison sentences earlier (for hemp and other things). However, many of those convicted are already facing a second trial because they continued to deal after the first trial. Here, the sentences are 18 to 48 months - and unconditional.

The smoking continues, the selling continues - business as usual. So the investigating authorities only enable cannabis products to be sold again without paying taxes. Because nobody is stupid and keeps an accounting, just so that you can then immediately prove the entire turnover and get a higher penalty. The prices have increased significantly and the quality has decreased significantly. But cocaine is cheaper than ever before… Was that the goal of the repression?