About 400 selected people can participate in the project and buy cannabis for recreational purposes.
A pilot project for the legal sale of cannabis for recreational purposes will begin in the Swiss border city of Basel in the fall. However, only about 400 selected people can participate in the project, as the Basel-Stadt health authority reported on Tuesday. The Federal Secretariat of Public Health has already approved the planned project, which is being supported by science.
The German governing coalition also wants to allow controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes, according to the coalition agreement. As in Switzerland, cannabis with the active ingredient THC can be prescribed by doctors for medical reasons such as pain relief.
The black market is booming
According to health authorities, cannabis is the most commonly used illegal substance in Switzerland. It is prohibited to grow, import, manufacture and sell cannabis. “Despite this ban, consumption is widespread and the black market is flourishing,” writes the Federal Secretariat of Public Health.
People who live in Basel and already consume marijuana regularly can apply to participate in the project. You can buy various cannabis products like dried cannabis flowers and hash from some pharmacies. The aim is to examine whether consumer behavior changes if the intoxicant can be legally purchased. In addition, participants are regularly asked about their physical and mental health. The project is expected to last two and a half years. Participants cannot buy cannabis and give it to others.
(APA/dpa)