In Switzerland, a cannabis trial in Bern, Lucerne and Biel and another one in Geneva were approved recently.
In a May 10 press release, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health’s (BAG) approval of the SCRIPT (safer Cannabis Research in Pharmacies Randomized Controlled Trial), which will include Bern, Lucerne and Biel was confirmed by the Cantonal Commission of Ethics as well as the Ethics Commission of Northwest & Central Switzerland.
The Bern Institute for Family Medicine at University of Bern will conduct research, and it is anticipated that this work will begin between October 2023 and April 2026. This program is expecting a sample size of 1,091.
Reto Auer explained the SCRIPT project’s goal, which is to study the “health and socio-economic effects” of local pharmacy regulation of cannabis. Auer stated in a press release that these elements were intended to reduce the appeal of cannabis products, particularly for youth. Our study does not seek to legalize marijuana on the open market, but to find ways to reduce the harm caused by the prohibition of cannabis and its black market. We also want to explore possible harm reduction methods and test the demand and supply for cannabis.
Auer said that pharmacy staff can help educate customers to prevent harm from avoidable harm caused by tobacco and other substances. The pharmacy is a better place to get information, and it can reduce damage. Cannabis users often don’t know exactly what their product contains. “On the black market, there are cannabis products that contain synthetic cannabinoids or pesticides and fungi – some of which could be very harmful.”
Participants must be 18 or older to take part in this study. The study will allow half of its participants to buy cannabis in the first six-month period. The announcement of the study states that “the comparison of fates of people in both groups should allow for study results to be as scientifically rigorous and reliable as possible.”
BAG also approved an additional initiative entitled “The Cannabinotheque : a trial pilot for the regulation of the sale of marijuana in the canton Geneva“. This study, which will run from June 2023 to June 2027 with 1,080 participants in the sample size, will help “improve the knowledge about the substance and the issues it raises and reduce health and social risk that drug use usually brings”.
The Swiss lifted their ban on medical marijuana on 2022. This opened the door for research to start. In 2021, the country announced it was going to conduct a trial of cannabis. The medical cannabis laws of Switzerland came into force on 1 August 2022. BAG released a statement last year that stated, “Cannabis for medical purposes is not allowed to be grown, imported, or made into products without an exception permit.” The BAG only granted an exception permit to patients who were allowed to use cannabis-based medicinal products. In recent years, the demand for these permits has increased. “This is an administratively complicated delay treatment that no longer reflects the exception provided by the Narcotics act.”
On March 23, 2023 , the first Swiss cannabis trial “Zuri Can – Cannabis with Responsibilty” was launched. It involved 2,100 participants. The City of Zurich Cannabis Study places great emphasis on the autonomy, responsibility and collaboration of those who are involved. This is stated in the website of the study. All reference points place a high value on individual guidance aimed at reducing harm and promoting good health. Reference points have different strengths when it comes to protecting individual health and the public’s.
The article Switzerland continues to expand cannabis research trials first appeared on High Times.
