Switzerland has published the first data from its adult-use cannabis pilot in the city of Zürich. ... [+]
Earlier this month Swiss officials published the first data from its adult-use cannabis pilot in the city of Zurich, followed by the announcement of the country’s largest trial to date.
Up to 7,500 people are expected to take part in the latest study, announced on Monday, March 18, which will run for five years and see participants in canton Zürich permitted to access regulated cannabis products.
It is also the first pilot to include a comparison group, in which participants will continue to source cannabis illegally, while two other groups in the towns of Winterthur, Schlieren and Horgen, will have access to regulated products from participating pharmacies and stores.
The data from all three groups will then be analyzed in a randomized control trial, which will help to provide “unbiased evidence” on the impacts of regulated cannabis sales.
Switzerland was the first European country to introduce pilot programmes for the legalization of adult-use cannabis. To date trials are underway in the cities of Lausanne, Zürich, Liestal, Allschwil, Bern, Bienne, and Lucerne and in the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Geneva.
Under these pilots, thousands of citizens now have access to legal cannabis products.
Data on consumption behavior, as well as the physical and mental health of the participants, is being collected regularly as part of studies being conducted by partnering universities to monitor the effects on public health.
This research will then be used to determine the impact of regulated cannabis markets and help inform future policy.
First Published Data Indicates ‘Robust Demand’
The first data collected through the ‘ZüriCan’ pilot was published earlier this month, following its launch in March 2023.
Currently, 1,928 people out of a maximum of 2,100 are enrolled in the study and are eligible to purchase cannabis.
Initially, five different cannabis products with differing levels of THC/CBD and different genotypes were available. However, in December 2023, this expanded to a total of nine products, including five flower and four hash-based.
European cannabis company, Cannavigia, is working closely with the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, having developed the software being used to track the amount of cannabis sales and provide data on consumption trends.
Every cannabis package managed through its Cannabis Dispensary System is uniquely marked to provide information about its origin, point of sale and recipient, explained Cannavigia’s head of marketing, Tobias Viegener.
According to Viegener, the findings so far indicate a “robust demand” for regulated cannabis across a “diverse range of products”, with approximately 16,500 sale transactions and 140 kg of cannabis in 5 g packages distributed as part of the pilot to date.
“The initial data from the ‘ZüriCan’ pilot, published this month, reveals promising insights into the regulated cannabis market’s functionality and its acceptance among participants,” he said.
“This level of engagement indicates a positive reception and an effective distribution system, setting a solid foundation for informing future cannabis policy and regulation.”
Data On Demographics ‘Aligns With Broader Trends’
The data also highlights patterns in the demographics of those involved in the pilots, with significantly more men (80.5%) than women or non-binary individuals (19.5%) recorded.
This “notable predominance” of male participants “aligns with broader trends observed in national cannabis consumption,” says Cannavigia’s chief operating officer, Philipp Hagenbach, in an email.
Participants have an average age of 35, with those aged 28 to 32-years-old said to be most frequently represented, although the study is said to encompass a broad age range.
Digging deeper into the trends in consumption, the data shows that the majority of participants consumed cannabis four times a week or more and approximately a quarter of the study participants had evidence of a cannabis use disorder before they began accessing regulated products.
Those behind the study believe that introducing regulated sales will reduce the risk of harm among those who fall into this category.
“Regulated distribution of cannabis can create a framework that promotes lower-risk cannabis consumption,” they state.
“The sales staff at the reference points have been specially trained to provide advice and prevention so that individual, targeted advice is possible. Since study participants always buy their study cannabis from the same source, a closer relationship of trust can develop over time, in which problematic developments can also be identified and discussed.”
All of this will serve as crucial insight, Hagenbach says, for future policy developments.
“These demographic insights, coupled with the consumption data, are invaluable in understanding the profile of regulated cannabis consumers,” he comments.
“They provide a nuanced view of the pilot’s initial impact, laying the groundwork for more detailed analyses as the study progresses. This approach contributes to a data-driven understanding of cannabis regulation and its potential implications for future policy development.”
Studying The Social And Economic Effects Of Cannabis Use
Cannavigia’s software is also being used in the newly-announced Canton Zürich pilot.
According to Andreas Beerli, head of research from the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zürich, which is leading the study, along with The University of Zürich, this research will focus on the social and economic effects of cannabis.
They will examine whether adult-use cannabis has a positive effect on health and public education, for example, alongside any potential negative effects.
The Federal Office of Public Health, states: “The aim of the pilot trial in the canton of Zürich is to investigate the social and economic consequences of legalising recreational cannabis use in Switzerland.
“In addition, the effects of a self-regulation programme for the prevention of excessive cannabis use are to be studied. This involves a randomised controlled trial (RCT).”
Hagenbach says he expects these findings to be positive.
“Regulation can reduce illicit cannabis trade, ensure product safety and quality, and generate tax revenue,” he says.
“Socially, it can contribute to reduced crime rates associated with the illegal market and improve public health through controlled access and education around safe consumption practices.
“Economically, creating a legal market can stimulate job creation and provide new revenue streams for public services. The ongoing pilot studies, including the one in Canton Zurich focusing on these impacts, will offer empirical data to validate these expectations.”
Potential For Future Pilots?
With adult-use pilots either underway or planned in a number of major cities, the Federal Office of Public Health's commitment to “understanding the comprehensive impacts of regulated cannabis sales” suggests further pilots could be rolled out in the future, Hagenbach believes.
“While specific plans for further pilots depend on the outcomes and learnings from current studies, the positive progression and valuable insights gained so far indicate a strong foundation for future research initiatives,” he adds.
“While there exists interest and intentions to conduct further pilots, the primary focus of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is to ensure that the research thesis yields additional insights into market structure.”
