Switzerland facilitates access to medical marijuana prescriptions from August 1

As of August 1, 2022, doctors in Switzerland will be able to prescribe cannabis without authorization, the Federal Council announced on June 22, 2022, RTS reported.

The introduction of the change, which allows cannabis to be prescribed for medical reasons without authorization from federal health authorities, follows updates to Switzerland's drug laws.

In 1951, the medical and recreational use of cannabis was banned in Switzerland. Medical use was only allowed in exceptional circumstances after the doctor prescribed a successful application to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).

Currently, some 3,000 exceptional authorizations are granted annually, usually for patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis or neurological diseases. However, the authorization process is often long and expensive. To make it easier to obtain cannabis for medical reasons, the ban is removed from Swiss law. But recreational use will remain illegal.

The cultivation of cannabis for medical use will require the authorization and control of Swissmedic, the Swiss medicines regulator. Does not allow home cultivation for personal use.

Furthermore, the costs of medical cannabis will only be reimbursed by the Swiss statutory health insurance in exceptional cases.