Summary penalty orders 2025

Repression will continue in 2025. In terms of numbers, at a lower level, but if you are hit, the penalties are the same as always. In particular, fees is sometimes a punishment in itself.

No criminal proceedings should be opened for the possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use without punishment. The material (maximum 10 grams) may also not be confiscated. That is why there are no documents. Here is an experience report from 2025 with a comparison of a similar incident 10 years ago: Police check on a train, 2025, Geneva

No substances were found during the investigation, so driving under the influence of drugs can be ruled out with certainty. The police's suspicions were completely wrong, but the costs of the investigation were still charged in full to the innocent driver:

No substances in the blood at all!

Vague suspicions are enough to pass on the costs.

Read the full article here: Road traffic: Paying without guilt

Example of an efficient public prosecutor: 21 hemp seeds ordered, the public prosecutor decides not to take action (a rare case to date):

Example of a public prosecutor who still wants to massively punish even the import of seven hemp seeds (misdemeanor, entry in the criminal register):

This is also a good example of how refusing to testify is not always the best strategy. We deal with such questions in our legal advice. After the objection, the person concerned was questioned by the public prosecutor. There, the person concerned explained that the hemp seeds had been intended for her own consumption. The public prosecutor then changed the summary penalty order to contravention. But the costs remain enormous!

The topic of hemp seed prosecutions has been on our minds since 2015. You can find lots more information here.