Switzerland
Europe
#19 of 196 worldwide
#7 of 45 in Europe
Possession of up to 10 g is not punishable and use is a CHF 100 fine. Cannabis under 1% THC is legal, and city pilot trials sell regulated cannabis to registered adults.
History
- Swiss Federal Court: up to 10 g may not be confiscated
- Switzerland starts regulated pilot sales29 to 30+1
- Switzerland lifts its ban on medical cannabis28 to 29+1
- Switzerland allows pilot trials of legal sales
- Swiss Federal Court: possessing up to 10 g is not punishable23 to 28+5
- Switzerland introduces a CHF 100 fine16 to 23+7
- Swiss voters reject legalisation
- Switzerland makes consumption an offence17 to 16−1
- Switzerland bans cannabis98 to 17−81
Score breakdown ▏world average
Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.
Possession · 25%4/10adds 10.0 of 25 points
Possessing up to 10 g for your own use is not punishable under the Narcotics Act. Above 10 g it is a criminal offence. Cannabis containing less than 1% THC is not a controlled drug at all and can be carried freely.
Personal cultivation · 25%1/10adds 2.5 of 25 points
Growing cannabis with 1% THC or more is illegal, with no tolerated plant count. Low-THC (under 1%) plants can be grown legally. A legalisation bill drafted by a parliamentary committee would allow home growing but has not been enacted.
Punishment & enforcement · 20%5/10adds 10.0 of 20 points
Users face at most a CHF 100 fine. Growing, selling or holding more than 10 g are criminal, with prison for commercial dealing.
Sharing & gifting · 10%3/10adds 3.0 of 10 points
An unusual exemption: supplying up to 10 g free of charge to an adult so that you can consume it together at the same time is not punishable. Any other transfer is an offence.
Consumption · 10%2/10adds 2.0 of 10 points
Consuming is still an offence, punished with a CHF 100 fixed fine for adults and no criminal record. Low-THC cannabis may be smoked wherever tobacco is.
Legal access · 10%2/10adds 2.0 of 10 points
Low-THC 'CBD' cannabis is sold openly in shops and kiosks. For THC cannabis, the only legal source is one of the scientific pilot trials running in several cities since 2023: registered local residents can buy a limited monthly amount from pharmacies, clubs or dedicated shops.
History
- Swiss Federal Court: up to 10 g may not be confiscated
- Switzerland starts regulated pilot sales29 to 30+1
- Switzerland lifts its ban on medical cannabis28 to 29+1
- Switzerland allows pilot trials of legal sales
- Swiss Federal Court: possessing up to 10 g is not punishable23 to 28+5
- Switzerland introduces a CHF 100 fine16 to 23+7
- Swiss voters reject legalisation
- Switzerland makes consumption an offence17 to 16−1
- Switzerland bans cannabis98 to 17−81
More context not part of the score
Production is legal for low-THC hemp, for licensed medical use, and for the limited volumes supplying the pilot trials. No general commercial licensing exists.
Anything under 1% THC is freely sold. Pilot-trial participants get tested flower, hash and some extracts with THC caps. Otherwise THC products are illegal.
Since August 2022 doctors can prescribe cannabis medicines on their own responsibility without a special federal permit. Costs are usually not reimbursed.
The fixed fine is not entered in the criminal record. Road-traffic law applies near-zero tolerance for THC, so a driver can lose their licence without being impaired.
All sources
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