Table of Contents
Current info association Legalize it!
On the “News” page, you can find what has been going on with us. We also try to provide updates, links & reminders to various topics.
Contributions from previous years:
Summer 2026
29.06.2026 => Summer Break office June 30 through August 14
From June 30 through August 14, the office will be in vacation mode.
During this time, we can be reached by phone on Fridays.
Otherwise, the best way to contact us is by email.
Starting August 17, the office will be open as usual (Mon, Tue, and Fri, in the afternoons).
We wish everyone a great summer!
22.06.2026 – Our Archive: From Analog to Digital
A year ago, we began digitizing our previously analog archive spanning the last four decades. At first, the goal was simply to replicate the structure of the cardboard folders and tabs, as well as the clear pockets inside them, in digital form.
But we soon realized: OCR recognition is feasible, as is date recognition using AI – and it works quite well even with handwritten dates… Our association’s AI can now also search through, gather, and summarize information spanning decades. It’s truly amazing how much more accessible our archive has become thanks to digitization.
But even our association’s AI isn’t infallible: Now we have to verify the suggested dates. That requires additional human effort. Even though no one knows where the AI journey will take our society, one thing is certain: we must not trust it blindly. Critical scrutiny and oversight are always necessary.
16.06.2026 – A Note from us: Sven receives the 2026 CannAward for his Lifetime Achievement
For over 35 years, Sven Schendekehl has been advocating for the legalization of hemp in Switzerland.
As a founding member, he and others laid the groundwork in 1990–91 for what is now Association Legalize it!
He has remained actively involved throughout this time and helped shape the Swiss hemp scene: for over 35 years as a board member and later as secretary.
To this day, he remains active as an author, consultant, educator, speaker, and general expert on the legal status of hemp and THC in Switzerland.
At this year’s CannaTrade, he was awarded the CannAward Lifetime Achievement 2026. We on the board would also like to extend our warmest congratulations and wish him all the best and much strength for the future — until full legalization! Legalize it!
Video: Award Ceremony & Acceptance Speech (YouTube)
09.06.2026 – Magazine Legalize it! No. 110 is published & No. 109 is online
Our members are currently receiving the latest issue 110 of our magazine Legalize it!
The summer issue contains the Minutes of our association meeting 2026 and a first look at the persecution figures for 2025 with the question of whether repression is coming to an end. We also provide an overview of the results of the CanPG consultation process. The complete magazine will be available as a PDF from September.
Become a member so that you are always up to date (e.g. also by e-mail) – this enables our activities and supports Association. Legalize it!
We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! as PDF. The Issue 109 is now available for download both as a whole and as individual articles in the Politics and Scene sections. The current issue (#110) is still reserved for our members.
02.06.2026 – Züri Can extended until 2028
Good news! The city of Zurich has announced that the Züri Can pilot project will be extended by two years. This means that our Hanfstübli project will continue until October 2028. We are very pleased that we can continue to sell legal, tested goods to our participants.
Despite all the joy, we are also asking ourselves the question: What will happen in 2028? The Ordinance on Pilot Trials (BetmPV) only allows a single extension, so Züri Can, like all other extended pilot projects, cannot be extended again under current law.
After the end of the pilot projects, thousands of users would have to return to the black market. We want to prevent this and are in the process of developing options for a bridging solution.
Spring 2026
26.05.2026 – Opening hours
This Friday, May 29th we are not available: We are at the CannaTrade. Afterwards we will have our normal opening hours again: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, in the afternoon, we can be reached at 079 581 90 44. We are happy to arrange a meeting at other times (e.g. by e-mail).
18.05.2026 – See you at the CannaTrade?
The last three days of May are all about the CannaTrade hemp trade fair. From Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, you can visit us at stand 194. Sven will give a presentation on the draft Cannabis Products Act on Friday at 2 pm, followed by a panel discussion on the same topic. If you would like to help at our stand, please get in touch!
11.05.2026 – Draft CanPG is being revised
The National Council's Social Security and Health Committee (SGK-N) met surprisingly quickly on May 6-8 to discuss (among other things) the consultation responses to the CanPG. You can find their evaluation report on the consultation here. In its press release of May 8, it states: “With 16 votes to 8 and 1 abstention, the committee decided to continue the work (…).”
Its subcommittee is now to examine the main points of criticism: more protection of minors, more resources for the cantons, simplifying enforcement, reconsidering online sales. This work is to be completed “in the course of this year”. This delay pushes the CanPG project further into the future.
It will therefore come too late for the participants in the pilot projects: So they will have to return to the black market. We are in the process of developing a bridging solution to prevent this from happening.
05.05.2026 – 30 years Shit happens
In spring 1996, we published the first edition of our legal overview Shit happens. In the 30 years since then, we have constantly dealt with the prosecution of cannabis in Switzerland. We have collected summary penalty orders, provided legal information to those affected and graphically presented the number of convictions.
In 2025, there were still almost 20,000 cannabis-related offenses reported. Although fewer than before (the peak was over 70,000 per year), many people are still affected by prosecution of hemp every year. Especially now in spring, hemp seed orders are an issue, and there are constant inquiries about THC and road traffic.
You are welcome to order a copy of the current edition of our Shit happens or download it here as a PDF. For personal information, we can be reached by telephone on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays in the afternoon: 079 581 90 44. We are also happy to provide advice in our office.
27.04.2026 – Special opening hours
Our office will be closed on May 1, May 15 (Friday after Ascension Day) and May 25 (Whit Monday). The CannaTrade will follow on May 29 and we will be on site and not in the office.
20.04.2026 – Our activities at the CannaTrade
The CannaTrade will take place from May 29 to 31. We will be present with a stand, lecture and podium:
- We are running stand 194 (see also the hall plan. If you would like to help distribute flyers, talk to people or look after the stand, please get in touch.
- On Friday, May 29, 14:00, our secretary Sven will give a presentation on the Cannabis Products Act and provide an overview and outlook.
- Afterwards at 14:30 Sven will lead the panel on the same topic. You can find the whole program here.
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Maybe we'll see each other?
14.04.2026 – Narcotics statistics 2025: preview
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) had already published the Narcotics statistics (BMS) for the year 2025 at the end of March. However, the «big table», which we have always used for our analysis, will not be submitted until the summer. We hope that the data will still be comparable with the older years after the revision…
However, the available figures for the «selected cases» show a familiar picture: the progressive shrinking of «countable» repression. Even in 2025, the numbers have fallen again and are now at a fifth of the record year 2015 with the seed persecution at that time.
Will repression soon be over? Hardly: the 13,369 criminal offenses across Switzerland in 2025 still mean an average of over 36 cases a day involving only cannabis products (without a combination, see chart). The number of cases in combination with other substances is relatively low and is particularly visible in the case of consumption offenses.
In our upcoming summer issue of the Legalize it! No. 110 we will report in more detail on last year's figures. In doing so, we will look at both the seized cannabis products and selected cannabis offenses in combination with other substances.
Become a member and stay up to date!
27.03.2026 – Spring break office from March 30 to April 10
From March 30 to April 10, we will be taking a spring break and therefore our office will be closed for the vacations.
During this time, we will not be able to take any calls or provide legal advice. We will try to answer inquiries by e-mail – but we will not be able to answer more complex inquiries until April 13.
From then on, we will be available again as usual on Monday, Tuesday and Friday (in the afternoon): 079 581 90 44 or li@hanflegal.ch.
We wish you all a wonderful spring!
23.03.2026 – Our AGM 2026 has taken place
On March 20, we approved the minutes of the last AGM, reviewed the 2025 annual report and approved last year's accounts at our 2026 AGM. As before, we elected Fabian Strodel, Markus Graf, Michael Stapelberg and Sven Schendekehl to the 2026 Board. We look forward to shaping the 36th year of our association together!
16.03.2026 – Realize projects
We want to create majorities for an improvement in the legal situation of hemp in Switzerland. We hold lectures, distribute flyers, create videos, organize campaigns: Different approaches are needed. If you want to do something, develop a project and submit it!
A project has the following three parts:
- Goal What is your idea? What is it about? What do you want to do? What do you want to achieve? What is the deadline or timetable for this?
- People Who is doing this? What are you willing and able to do? Can you do it alone, do you have other active people, are you still missing active people?
- Funds How much money are you bringing in? How much is still missing? What other resources do you need?
It is best to summarize these three points on one A4 page so that interested parties can read your project as quickly as possible. If you have trouble with this: Our secretary Sven will be happy to help!
10.03.2026 – Our dates until the end of June
Overview of our next Legalize it! dates:
- Association meeting 2026 on March 20 (from 6 p.m.)
- Spring break from March 30 to April 10
- Members' meeting on May 8 (from 6 p.m.)
- Ascension vacation from May 13 to 15
- Booth at the CannaTrade from May 29 to 31 (booth 194)
- Members' meeting on June 12 (from 6 p.m.)
On the Friday of the association meeting, we can only be reached by telephone until 4 pm. Our office is closed during the spring vacation and on the Friday after Ascension Day. During CannaTrade we are usually unable to take telephone calls, but we can be found at our stand.
You are welcome to register for our AM, the meetings or to help at the stand.
02.03.2026 – Magazine Legalize it No. 109 has been published & No. 108 is online
Our members are currently receiving the latest issue 109 of our magazine Legalize it!
The spring issue contains – as has been the case for a long time – mainly the annual report and financial statements of the past year. We will make the complete magazine available as a PDF from June.
Become a member so that you are always up to date (e.g. also by e-mail) – in this way you make our activities possible and support the association. Legalize it!
We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! as PDF. The Issue 108 is now available for download both as a whole and as individual articles in the Politics and Scene sections.
The current issue (#109) is still reserved for our members.
Winter 25/26
23.02.2026 – Hanfstübli for 2.5 years
Our Hanfstübli (part of the Zurich pilot project Züri Can) has now been open for 2.5 years. We have been able to sell 42 kg of tested goods (currently three types of hash and eight types weed) to our almost 150 participants. Ten years ago, something like this would have been completely unimaginable.
No major problems have arisen. Sometimes a strain is out of stock, occasionally someone has to be sent home because their student ID has been forgotten (without this, there is no sale).
There is an exchange among the participants about considered consumption that is appropriate to the situation. The participants are happy that they no longer have to buy untested goods on the black market.
It is real proof that controlled cannabis sales are possible. With some effort, of course: the work has to be very clean, every bag of 5 grams has to be registered, the strict regulations require a complete inventory every month. But it works!
16.02.2026 – The Legalize it! 109 is at the printers
The 109th issue of our association magazine is in print. If all goes well, it will reach our members at the beginning of March.
In it, we will once again remind you of our association meeting on March 20, publish the annual report 2025 and the annual accounts for the past year and present the new opportunities for projects.
09.02.2026 – Consultation responses CanPG
The overview of the consultation responses to the Cannabis Products Act (CanPG) was published at the beginning of February. It's a big chunk: the PDF comprises 2,830 pages.
Many cantons want more money for their work, some parties are fundamentally against it, and a number of responses want minor or major changes… This is unlikely to move forward quickly.
Above all, we can see that although the CanPG was well thought out during its development, majority support was not the main approach. Now it remains to be seen which parts of it can find a majority in parliament.
In our policy group, we look at such documents together and develop projects to improve the current situation. If you would like to join us, please get in touch!
03.02.2026 – CannaTrade 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets now – before the price goes up!
CannaTrade celebrates 25 years – from May 29 to 31, 2026 in Hall 622 in Zurich! 🌿
Experience the anniversary edition of Europe's oldest hemp trade fair with over 150 exhibitors, the legendary Joint Roll Contest, the CannaSwissCup and the Buds & Beats Festival. 💚
🔔 Important: Ticket prices increase every month - the earlier you book, the cheaper your admission!
📅 And pssst… every Sunday there's a little 25years flashback with highlights from 25 years of CannaTrade - don't miss it!
🎫 Tickets & info: www.cannatrade.ch
27.01.2026 – Study on driving and THC
Zero tolerance for THC in road traffic has been in force for 20 years. As soon as THC is detected in the blood, a person is considered unfit to drive, even if no impairment is apparent. It hardly seems possible to establish a meaningful effect limit for THC in the blood. This new study now aims to find out whether the actual, real impairment can be measured or how it can be determined that the ability to drive is given. You can find more information in this flyer.
19.01.2026 – Cannabis for multiple sclerosis
A new book has been published on the subject of cannabis in MS: How THC gave my legs wings.
This book is both an experience report on the treatment of multiple sclerosis with medical cannabis, as well as a remembrance of the author, who has since passed away, who was able to make her suffering more bearable with hemp medicine.
Esther was a member of our Association for many years. After her death, her sister has now been able to publish this book. Click on the picture to go to the Nachtschattenverlag, where you can order the book.
12.01.2026 – Here's to a new one!
After some vacation days and administrative work, we are available again as usual: Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (in the afternoon) you can reach us by telephone (079 581 90 44).
The next dates:
- Member Meeting Politics: Friday, February 6
- Association meeting 2026: Friday, March 20
- CannaTrade: May 29 to 31
Factsheet Association:
Board of Directors
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