Another repression year has been counted out. The numbers were also down in 2021. Is the repression machinery slowly losing its appetite for hemp prosecution? But beware: More than 20,000 people per year are still prosecuted for hemp!

The Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO) has again changed tables and categories, especially the totals for the accused (which we have published so far) have changed in a way that is no longer comprehensible. Therefore, we now present here the criminal offenses. These figures are slightly higher than the number of accused.

After the lost hemp referendum in 2008, the number of arrests knew only one direction - upwards. Then, starting in 2013, the regulatory fines replaced a portion of the referrals, but the overall numbers remained fairly constant. Since the Federal Supreme Court clarified in 2017 that possession of what the law calls a “penalty-free minor quantity” cannot in fact be punished, repression has been on the decline. Meanwhile, the numbers have halved since the peak in 2015. That is pleasing, but over 20,000 convictions per year for smoking pot are still very shocking!

At misdemeanor, there are no such clear trends as at contraventions, mostly there were around 8,000 referrals per year. However, the year 2015 stands out: 3,233 hemp seed cases were reported as misdemeanor. In the meantime, this has leveled off (instead, the new category smuggling at contraventions is now filled with such cases). The last two years show a significant decrease in misdemeanor. Is this only due to the pandemic or is it really the beginning of the end of hemp repression?

OLD

The two graphs (click to enlarge) represent the number of hemp defendants prosecuted for consumption or preparatory acts for personal consumption. Each person is counted only once, even if he or she was reported several times. The left graph shows the different categories of convictions, the right graph shows the age distribution of those convicted.

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These graphs show those who have passed on or sold something: again, several thousand defendants. The left chart shows the two categories of convictions (light misdemeanors and heavy misdemeanors or felonies), the right chart the age distribution of those convicted.

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Another year in which customs fished out hemp seeds envelopes en masse and arrested those involved: 2020 shows the second highest figure (the record year 2015 is still at the lonely top). In addition to the annual number of arrests, we also show the type of report. hemp seeds -defendants by type of report, 2009 to 2020 In our chart on the left, we have listed defendants who have been charged with handling hemp seeds. On the one hand, those accused of contraventions (in light red), and on the other, those accused of misdemeanors (in purple). The lockdown seems to have inspired many to order hemp seeds. Well, that was not a good idea, customs reports everything they find. Almost 2,500 people were affected in 2020. However, while in 2015 the majority were still reported for an misdemeanor right away, now the vast majority are finally only reported for contraventions (change from purple to light red). In 2015, of all cannabis-misdemeanors, 27% were for hemp seeds, an insane figure. In 2020, the proportion has now dropped to just under 8 %. Correspondingly, more such cases appear at the contraventions.

The older ones got into smoking pot with hashish. But over the years, this has become almost irrelevant: weed took over the market. Then there was a resurgence and hashish increased in all age groups. But the lockdown prevented imports and the hash rate dropped drastically. Hash share among misdemeanor defendants by age group, 2009 to 2020. 2020 is a special repression year: the lockdown temporarily halted hash sales, and the borders were tight. This drastically trimmed back the increase in hash. But not only that: traditionally, the hash share was highest among older people (very nicely shown in the graph on the right for the 2009 vintage). Then the rates rose from 2015, especially among the young, and then in 2019 all age groups had very similar rates, with the younger ones taking the lead. This has continued through the downturn and now we see the reversal of the earlier ratios: The oldest now have the smallest hash share, with 18-24 year olds clearly taking the top spot. Were the older ones using less and not getting busted more? Did the younger ones have better connections to find something in these difficult times after all? The reason is not really clear, but this shift is remarkable.

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Here are more articles about statistics. There are two periods: The period up to 2008 and the period from 2009 onwards. The figures for the two periods are only comparable to a limited extent. The figures for the previous year are published at the end of March each year.

• The figures and graphs for 2009 to 2021 can be found at the top of the main article
• Statistics 2009 until 2020
• Statistics 2009 until 2019
• prosecution from hemp seeds - the second big push
• Hash/weed ratio : The hash return?
• The hemp-prosecution 2009 to 2018
• Repression graphs: Hemp-prosecution 2009 to 2016
• Hemp tracking 2015 detail graphics
• The hemp tracking in 2015
• Hemp seizures in 2014
• The hemp prosecution in 2014
• Referrals in 2013 by gender and age
• Seizures 2013: Tonnes seized
• The reality also in 2013: repression, repression...
• 2012: The madness continues
• 2011: Three vintages prosecution in comparison
• 2010 conviction figures: increase at a high level
• 2009: The old prosecution recounted

• 1974 to 2008: The 35th year hemp repression is recorded
• Statistics on seizures 1974 to 2008
• Does the law apply throughout Switzerland?
• 2007: Another year of repression
• 1974 to 2006: How many referrals does the police issue?
• Statistics on seizures 1974 to 2006
• 2006: prosecution stagnates at very high level
• 2005: Figures remain at a very high level
• 2004: A new vintage Repression in figures