Is there a cannabis law in Switzerland?

6 min read · Updated 27 October 2026 · Editorial team of The Cherry e.V.

According to reporting from May 2026, there is no nationwide cannabis law in Switzerland yet. Pilot projects are running in several cities and a draft bill is being revised. According to the trade association IG Hanf, the non-medical use of cannabis is still regulated under the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz, BetmG).

The pilot projects

Pilot projects have been running since 2023 in several Swiss cities. They are limited locally and are not a general right to use cannabis. In Hanf Magazin's interview with the association, the pilot projects are described as running out in 2027 or 2028 (status of the source: May 2026). Without a follow-on solution, the association warns, data would be lost and progress reversed.

Anyone who wants to know how the trials are structured will find more background in the article How do the cannabis pilot projects in Switzerland work?.

The draft bill in parliament

On 7 May 2026, the responsible committee of the National Council, the SGK-N, sent the draft for parliamentary initiative 20.473 back to a sub-committee for revision. The initiative was submitted in 2020. The association supports the referral but urges speed.

The association expects a revised proposal at the earliest by the end of 2026. In its assessment, regulation is hardly likely to take effect before 2029. This timing comes from a person within the association and is not an official decision.

What the ban means in everyday life

As long as non-medical use of cannabis is regulated under the Narcotics Act, the pilot projects remain authorised exceptions. They change nothing for people outside the trials.

Anyone travelling to Switzerland should check the official sources of the country before the trip. Rules can change, and pilot projects do not apply to all visitors.

Assessing the source

The information on the procedure comes from a statement and an interview by IG Hanf Schweiz, which describes itself as the trade association of the Swiss cannabis industry. The association urges speed and calls for non-medical use of cannabis to be regulated fully in a separate law and no longer in the Narcotics Act. Its views on timing are therefore not neutral. For the parliamentary process, the decisions themselves count.

Terms: law, initiative and pilot project

A law is a decision of parliament that applies until it is amended or repealed. A parliamentary initiative is a route by which a member of parliament can start a change to the law. According to the association, initiative 20.473 by Heinz Siegenthaler gave the impetus in 2020. A pilot project is a scientific project limited in time and place, authorised by the Federal Office of Public Health. The article How do the cannabis pilot projects in Switzerland work? explains how the trials are structured.

What applies until regulation takes effect

As long as no law is in force, non-medical use remains regulated under the Narcotics Act, according to the association. The pilot projects change nothing for people who do not take part in them. Anyone who wants to use cannabis in Switzerland should therefore check with official bodies and cannot rely on individual projects.

What this means for Germany

The Swiss debate shows how similar and yet different regulation can be. There too the issues are sale, youth protection and the black market. The German model, however, relies on home cultivation and licensed cannabis associations (§ 9 and § 11 KCanG). A comparison with the Swiss trial design is therefore only possible to a limited extent.

Prevention regardless of the law

The young brain is in an important stage of development, and consumption can affect it (cannabispraevention.de). The legal situation changes nothing about these risks. With regular use, psychological dependence can develop. According to the BIÖG, roughly one in eight people who use cannabis becomes dependent.

How to check information about Switzerland

Distinguish between a draft bill, a decision and a pilot project.
Pay attention to the date, because the situation can change quickly.
Check whether the information comes from an authority, a parliamentary document or an association.
Mark timing statements as an assessment where they are not an official decision.

Why timing statements need care

The association names time frames, for example for a revised proposal or a possible entry into force. Such figures rest on the assessment of individual people and not on a decision. Parliamentary procedures often run differently from what was planned, because committees demand changes or majorities shift. In the interview, the pilot projects are described as running out in 2027 or 2028, without it being settled what happens afterwards. Anyone naming a date should also say what it is based on.

For travellers and those interested, it is also important to distinguish between the state of play in parliament and the situation on the ground. A draft bill only changes the legal position once it has been adopted and enters into force. Until then, the existing rules continue to apply, even if the debate in the media is lively.

What you can do now

Check the official information of the country before travelling, before you plan anything.
Read the overview in the article Which countries have legalised cannabis?
Read how the trials are structured in the article How do the cannabis pilot projects in Switzerland work?

Frequently asked questions

What does the referral of the draft bill mean?

On 7 May 2026, the responsible committee sent the draft for parliamentary initiative 20.473 back to a sub-committee for revision. The trade association IG Hanf supports the step but urges speed. How things proceed is decided by the parliamentary process.

Is cannabis allowed for adults in Switzerland?

According to the association, non-medical use of cannabis is still regulated under the Narcotics Act. The pilot projects run only in individual cities. Anyone who wants to be sure before a trip should check with the official bodies of the country.

Since when have the pilot projects been running?

Pilot projects have been running in several Swiss cities since 2023. In Hanf Magazin's interview with the trade association IG Hanf, they are described as running out in 2027 or 2028. Without a follow-on solution, the association warns, data would be lost and progress reversed. The article on the pilot projects gives more background.

What is the difference between a pilot project and a law?

A pilot project is a time-limited test in individual cities. A law applies nationwide until it is amended or repealed. As long as no law is in force, non-medical use remains regulated under the Narcotics Act, according to the association.

Where can I find official information about Switzerland?

The information in this article comes from a statement by a trade association. For the pilot projects, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH, BAG) is the official body. For decisions, such as before a trip, consult official Swiss sources and check the information against the original text of the law or report.