BackThis is how pilot cannabis sales programmes work in the Netherlands and Switzerland

The debate on the regulation of cannabis continues to gain relevance worldwide. In this context, the pilot programmes developed in the Netherlands and Switzerland represent a public policy experiment aimed at providing empirical data that can support future regulatory decisions. These trials seek to analyse the social, economic, and health effects of the regulated sale of cannabis, offering models that could inspire other countries interested in moving forward with the legalisation of this substance.

 

As was made clear by Germany’s campaign to legalise marijuana, the European Union limits the cannabis reform measures that can be implemented among its member countries. And widespread trade of legal cannabis, such as that carried out in Canada, remains banned until the EU agreements are modernised. But regional pilot trials of cannabis marketing for adults are an interesting public policy experiment that is allowed by European legislation. The aim is to research and analyse trends in order to be better prepared when developing national policies and regulations for the cannabis industry. In the framework of these pilot models, a limited number of producers and retail outlets are allowed to engage in legal cannabis trading activities. In addition, adult users can register for the trials to obtain marijuana legally. Pilot trials are currently being conducted in Switzerland and the Netherlands, with additional trials expected to start in Germany in 2025 as part of the "Pillar 2" of its advanced recreational legalisation model. Up to 25 cities have already announced their intention to participate; and, last December, two Berlin boroughs (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Neukölln) announced their plans to launch their pilot programmes through several specialty stores. Sales could begin next summer, provided that the political situation in the country doesn’t overturn or significantly modify the cannabis reforms, especially with early elections just around the corner.

 

The Netherlands officially launched its fsirt pilot tests in Breda and Tilburg in December 2023. Since then, research projects have been expanded to Groningen, Zaanstad, Almere, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Voorne aan Zee, Heerlen, and Maastricht. The trials aim to phase out the Dutch "gedoog" policy, which decriminalises the possession of small quantities of cannabis and grants licences to sales outlets, whilst outlawing the production and sale in bulk. This "front door, back door" system was introduced in the 1970s to distinguish between "hard" and "soft" drugs at a time when Amsterdam had earned its reputation as a drug paradise. But this policy has unintentionally allowed criminal activities to flourish, with theft, violence, and money laundering remaining common in the sector. Consumers are often unaware of the exact content of their purchases, which complicates the response from health services. The experiment aims to close this back door to criminal activities. Currently, establishments in the 10 municipalities participating in the pilot programmes can sell a combination of regulated and "tolerated" cannabis products. Regulators have now set a fixed date for the transition to what is known as their experimental phase: From 7th April 2025, all licensed cannabis shops will be required to sell only regulated cannabis products. In theory, this phase will last four years. With a definitive date in sight, growers will be able to further adapt the supply of regulated marijuana and hashish to the demand of coffee shop owners. “This will benefit both the choice of coffee shops and the stability of supply”, said the Dutch government in a press release on the pilot tests being carried out. A team of researchers, under the supervision of an independent guidance and evaluation committee, will also investigate the effects of these trials on public health, crime, safety, and anti-social behaviour.

 

 

In addition to the Netherlands, pilot trials for regional cannabis trade are also being conducted in several cities in Switzerland, including Zurich. And almost a year after the opening of the first legal stores, experts are already reporting on the sales and consumption trends that are taking place. This is thanks to the initial data collected from the Grashaus project in the canton of Basel-Landschaft (or Basel-Country), which started in late 2023 and has a duration of five years. The first of these shops opened in Allschwil last December, with specialists trained to educate participants on the safer use of marijuana and to provide advice on a range of cannabis products, such as dried flowers, hash, extracts, vaping liquids, and edibles. More than 700 people have enrolled in the study, which is designed to include up to 4,000 participants. About 80% of them identify as male, and almost a quarter are between the ages of 23 and 27. Throughout the whole period of study, consumer behaviour and the physical and mental health of participants are recorded. Social impacts, particularly those related to public safety and order, are analysed in close cooperation with the public prosecutor’s office and relevant health and social authorities.

 

 

According to the data analysed so far, a decrease in the average consumption of flowers and hashish has been identified, with alternative formats such as extracts, vaporisers, and edibles showing the highest growth (around 50% from the start of the study). This may be due to specific professional advice being given on consumption methods that are less harmful than smoking. Researchers point out that, as a result of all this, the proportion of parallel purchases of products from the illegal market appears to be declining. Currently, the price of flowers ranges between eight and twelve Swiss francs per gram, depending on their THC content, but there has also been an interest in varieties with a balance between THC and CBD. Although timely price adjustments and product range extensions are planned to compete with the illegal market, the entire value chain is unified under one roof: cultivation, processing, and packaging are all done exclusively in Switzerland by the company SwissExtract, with the production process being fully documented from seed to final product. Professor Michael Schaub, scientific director of the Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction (ISGF), as well as the director of this study, commented: “The fact that we have been able to record these early successes, partly thanks to the specific professional advice at the points of sale, is a hopeful development. The ultimate aim of the pilot project is, of course, to always provide users with safe and high-quality products from controlled sources in order to minimise health risks”. As can be seen, the pilot programmes in the Netherlands and Switzerland represent a milestone in the global cannabis debate. Far from being simple local experiments, these initiatives provide the basis for informed and rigorous analysis that could influence policies in other countries. Over time, these studies could show that cannabis regulation is not only viable but also beneficial in terms of health, economics, and social justice.