From Pilot to Policy: Informing the National Legal Framework
The extension of Züri Can comes as Switzerland prepares to transition from isolated research pilots to a fully regulated national cannabis market under the proposed Cannabis Products Act (CanPG).
The law’s structure reflects many of the same principles tested in Züri Can: capped THC levels, age restrictions, a ban on advertising, and mandatory harm-reduction messaging at points of sale. This law reflects Zuri Can’s participative approach by allowing the cantons, in a national standardised framework, to set certain operating rules.
Cannavigia, the Swiss provider of the track-and-trace software for the Züri Can trial, highlights some potential risks attached to this cantonal control, as seen in the patchwork regulations across German federal states.
Luc Richner is It’s Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder. MEDCAN24: It is clear that fragmentation of the market and unequal playing grounds are a risk. The business community will be faced with additional costs and uncertainties if the cantons differ in their interpretation and implementation.
The Swiss have a long tradition of federalism. If done correctly, the cantons could tailor their concessions according to local reality while remaining aligned under a single national framework. This is a great opportunity to enrich diversity in the marketplace by ensuring that there are no bottlenecks.
Another core pillar of the draft law seen in the Züri Can trial is its THC-based health levy, an alternative to conventional excise taxation. Richner believes that, while the mechanism is under consultation at this time, it has potential as a fiscal model which ties harm-reduction to fiscal policy.
He said: “It may seem like an innovative concept, but it is already well-established in Switzerland for alcohol and tobacco.”
We see it as an incentive to be more competitive and innovate in the market, and not only sell products with the highest THC levels that are proven to pose health risks. It is true that the idea of tying taxation with public health results, if done correctly, could distinguish Switzerland as an innovative regulator. “We’ll have to wait and see if the system is stable and transparent in reality.”
Predictability is still a major concern in industry planning.
Richner continued, “A simpler excise is easier for businesses to model, invest, and plan around.”
But from a society perspective, harm reduction is better served by a THC based tax. The ideal system is a compromise: A clear and predictable framework which still encourages lower-risk consumption. “Stability and clarity are the two most important factors for us, as a business. Whichever model can achieve this will be welcomed.”
Switzerland’s regulatory landscape is complex, but it offers a lot of promise for private companies. Proposed bans on vertical integration that would prohibit cultivators from holding online or retail sales concessions and also prevent manufacturers and producers from having both present both an opportunity and a constraint.
Richner added, “This approach introduces a lot of complexity and could dampen the efficiencies vertical integration might have provided.”
“For our company, this is an opportunity to have a more clear separation of responsibilities and work with more partners. This also provides opportunities for cross-value chain collaboration, as each party focuses on its own strengths.
“Our investment plan will have to adapt. But the industry is resilient and we still believe that we can create a system which works for all parties, including cultivators, processers, retailers and consumers.”
From Pilot to Policy – Informing the National Legal Framework
The extension of Züri Can comes as Switzerland prepares to transition from isolated research pilots to a fully regulated national cannabis market under the proposed Cannabis Products Act (CanPG).
The law’s structure reflects many of the same principles tested in Züri Can: capped THC levels, age restrictions, a ban on advertising, and mandatory harm-reduction messaging at points of sale. This law uses the same participatory method as in Zuri Can, which allows cantons to set certain rules for their operations, like licensing requirements or retail hours within a national standardised framework.
Cannavigia, the Swiss provider of the track-and-trace software for the Züri Can trial, highlights some potential risks attached to this cantonal control, as seen in the patchwork regulations across German federal states.
Luc Richner is It’s Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder. MEDCAN24: It is clear that fragmentation of the market and unequal playing grounds are a risk. The business community will be faced with additional costs and uncertainties if the cantons differ in their interpretation and implementation.
In addition, Switzerland is a country with a rich tradition of federalism. This means that, if implemented correctly, it’s possible for cantons to tailor their concessions in accordance with local needs, while maintaining a national structure. It is important to make sure that the differences between the cantons do not lead to bottlenecks and inequities, but rather enrich the diversity on the market.
Another core pillar of the draft law seen in the Züri Can trial is its THC-based health levy, an alternative to conventional excise taxation. Richner, who is still consulting on the model, sees its potential. It ties fiscal policies directly to harm reduction goals.
“It may seem like an innovation, but it is already well established for alcohol and cigarettes in Switzerland,” said he.
We see it as an incentive to be more competitive and innovate in the market, and not only sell products with the highest THC levels that are proven to pose health risks. The principle that taxation should be linked to health outcomes could make Switzerland a more responsible regulator if it is implemented in a way with clearly defined guardrails. “We’ll have to wait and see if the system is stable and transparent in reality.”
Predictability, however, remains an important concern when it comes to industry investment and planning, as many details of operation are still up for interpretation.
Richner said that a simplified excise tax was easier to plan and model for business.
But from a society perspective, harm reduction is better served by a THC based levy. The ideal system is a compromise: A clear and predictable framework which still encourages lower-risk consumption. “Stability and clarity are the two most important factors for us, as businesses. Whichever model can achieve this will be welcomed.”
Switzerland’s regulatory landscape is complex, but it offers a lot of promise for private companies. Proposed bans on vertical integration that would prohibit cultivators from holding online or retail sales concessions and also prevent manufacturers and producers from having both present a challenge and an opportunity.
Richner said, “This is a complex approach that could dampen the efficiency gains vertical integration would have made.”
“For our company, a more clear separation of roles is important. We also have a larger number of partners that we can coordinate with. This also provides opportunities for cross-value chain collaboration, as each party focuses on its own strengths.
“Our investment plan will have to adapt. But the industry is resilient and we still believe that we can create a system which works for all parties, including cultivators, processers, retailers and consumers.”
Cannabis Law Resources for Poland
Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. You can use these resources to learn about the requirements for certifications, permissions and compliance.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland