Repression 2023: The new figures for convictions

Repression is still on the decline: the numbers have fallen by around two thirds since the highs of 2015. After all the federal court rulings, many police forces have probably received new instructions and turned their attention to other things.

New lows

For 2020/21, we still assumed that the pandemic might have been a factor in prosecution because people simply spent less time outside in groups to consume the good herb or hash. Then, after the number of convictions for 2022 fell once again, we came to the conclusion that the pandemic could probably not explain this decline.

The federal court rulings on small quantities and the chronic overloading of police forces and public prosecutors' offices have probably taken a lot of the wind out of the sails of cannabis repression. In any case, the figures have continued to fall in 2023, both for contraventions (significantly) and for misdemeanor (slightly) – see graph on the following pages.

How low will the figures go?

The next few years should be interesting – when will the low point be reached? Will the numerous pilot projects have a dampening effect? Do the repressive authorities in all cantons realize the futility of their actions?

Especially since 2015, seed orders have been fished out by customs every spring and forwarded to the local authorities – nothing has changed. Fortunately, however, the intensity of the prosecution in 2015 has never been even remotely matched. Although customs continue to report every hemp seeds envelope they find, the police are investing fewer resources in criminal prosecution (fewer house searches, written rather than personal interviews, prosecution mostly as contravention, rarely as misdemeanor).

Still too much!

However, depending on how you count it, there are still 20,000 reported crimes per year – or just nearly 55 per day. Low or not, these are still (too) many – especially now that our neighbor Germany is breaking new ground and we are looking across the border with interest and hoping for a better future in Switzerland too.

The prosecution of hemp-contraventions 2009-2023

Contraventions represent the lower level of illegality. This involves the consumption of cannabis and the necessary preparatory acts (purchase, possession, cultivation, import, etc.). Contraventions are punished either with fixed penalty or with a fine and fees.

The prosecution of hemp-misdemeanor 2009-2023

Misdemeanors represent the higher level of illegality. This involves giving away or selling cannabis, i.e. passing it on. Misdemeanors are punished with a fine, fees, monetary penalty in daily rates or, in serious cases, with a prison sentence (conditional or unconditional).

Repression 2023: Confiscated material

The number of cannabis-related charges is decreasing, as shown in the graphs above. Now let's take a look at the number of people reported, especially the ratio between those reported for weed and those reported for hashish. We start with the confiscated material.

Massively less confiscated

In 2023, drastically less was confiscated than in 2022: hashish fell from just under five to 1.2 tons, and weed from just under five to 2.4 tons.

Not perfect statistics

Of course, the compilation of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO, see table below) is not really convincing. Some of the figures are very questionable (the 390 plants at hemp seeds, for example, or the marijuana plants, which are the same as the hemp plants listed above…). All cantons count in their own way and the FSO is probably just too convenient to reconcile everything. Since 2022, it has also been too much for the office to collect the fixed penalties for cannabis use at all. But that's just it: There are no better figures and the table does give an insight into what repression takes out of circulation. As there are never any bottlenecks, we can see that much more material reaches the users and that prosecution is only successful to a very limited extent.

However, if the repression machinery picks you out, you have a problem!

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Hash / weed 2009-2023: persons prosecuted for contraventions

Most people prosecuted for contraventions are still being prosecuted for weed use. However, the figures for weed have continued to fall over the last four years, while the hash figures have risen. In 2023, the proportion of hash was 40 % - compared to just 12 % in 2009.

Development hash / weed

For the third time, the number of people reported was below 20,000, meaning that prosecution is on the decline. For the second time, no figures on fixed penalties were published.

Hash / weed 2009-2023: persons prosecuted for misdemeanors

We also see a similar picture for those reported for misdemeanors: The numbers due to weed decreased, while the numbers due to hash remained constant or increased. This means that the proportion of hash was 43 % in 2023, compared to a low 12 % in 2009.

Development hash / weed

In this graph, we also see the drastic decline in repression among those convicted for misdemeanors, albeit with a delay of a few years in relation to those convicted for contraventions (graph above).

Hemp prosecution therefore affects fewer people and removes less material from the black market. This is good news for everyone involved. Socially, however, a legal approach would probably be better…

Proportion of all reported cases by age group 2009-2023

In the past, the over-30s accounted for around 40 % of those charged with hashish offenses. Over the years, this proportion has fallen to 25 %. Correspondingly, the proportion of under-30s rose from around 60 % to 75 %. This is particularly evident among the under-20s: from 20 to almost 40 %.

Development of the weed

In the case of those reported for weed, we see how the over-30s have climbed from around 20 % to 40 %, while the under-30s have fallen from over 80 % to 60 %.

Source

Police crime statistics (FSO), graphical representations by us. “Weed” includes cannabis, marijuana, hemp (young plant, dried plant, fresh plant), hemp seeds. “Hash” includes hashish oil, hashish and synthetic cannabinoids. The substance was not recorded at fixed penalties.

Last modified: 2024/12/06 14:36

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Shit happens 15 (Summer 2023)

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