Zurich Cannabis Pilot Trial Set For Expansion
The regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot project “Züri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility” was launched in 2023. The pilot trial, operated by the City of Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and the University of Zurich, is described as “investigating the effects of purchasing selected cannabis products from controlled cultivation under regulated conditions on participants’ consumption and health.”
Slated to operate until autumn 2026, the trial has involved 2,100 study participants so far. However, the Züri Can pilot trial is reportedly expected to expand and include nearly a thousand more study participants.
“The city of Zurich continues to lead the way in Europe in piloting a model for the legal and controlled distribution of cannabis in Switzerland. After an initial phase launched in 2023, the pilot project ” Züri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility ” is preparing for significant expansion: applications are open this month for an additional 900 participants, joining the approximately 2,100 already involved.” reported DolceVita in its original coverage.
“Participants can purchase recreational cannabis from over 20 licensed retailers, including pharmacies, specialized dispensaries, and accredited social clubs, choosing from a range of products vetted for quality and provenance.” the outlet also reported.
The planned expansion of the pilot trial in Zurich was originally approved by the Federal Office of Public Health on November 20, 2024. Pilot trial participation requirements include subjects being of legal age (18 years old or older), being an ‘active user’, participants must be a resident of Zurich, and they cannot work as a ‘professional driver’, such as a bus or taxi driver.
Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are a public policy model that is unique to Europe. Whereas national adult-use cannabis sales are prohibited by current European Union agreements, pilot trials are research-based and are permitted by the EU.
Multiple jurisdictions in Switzerland now have operating pilot trials, and trials are also operating in several jurisdictions in the Netherlands. Pilot trials were also approved as part of Germany’s multi-phased CanG law in 2024, although no German jurisdictions have received official approval to proceed yet.