For its first month of activity, the legal cannabis sales point in the city of Lausanne sold 4.5 kilos, or 5% of the quantity estimated to come from the black market.
Frank Zobel, deputy director of Addiction Suisse, clarified some of the demographics of buyers in an interview with 24 Hours: “They are on average between 35 and 40 years old and generally do not participate in drug support programs. »
For him, this challenges stereotypes and suggests that a diverse group is interested in regulated cannabis. More than 600 Lausanne adults have expressed their intention to participate in the Cann-L project in the coming months, indicating a potential attraction of consumers towards legal and regulated channels.
The potency of the cannabis being sold also provides valuable information. Zobel notes that “the most in-demand cannabis is the most potent, with a THC content of around 15%, which accounts for 40% of sales.”
Zobel addresses the issue of the presence of drug traffickers in the neighborhood, emphasizing that the first participants in the Cann-L project obtained their supplies through short circuits, such as acquaintances or growers. Zobel maintains that street vendors can still meet spontaneous needs that legal outlets cannot satisfy.
The Cann-L project is inspired by Quebec and aims not only to monitor the black market, but also to assess the impact of non-profit sales on consumer behavior. Participants must complete a questionnaire every six months, the data from which will be used to assess the long-term effects of the project.
The financial commitment to the Cann-L project is significant, with a cost of 1.7 million Swiss francs and an expected duration of four and a half years. It will be used, among other things, to understand in depth the dynamics of regulated cannabis sales and their potential effects on society.
The cities of Basel and Zurich have already launched controlled sales of cannabis in pharmacies in 2023.
These initiatives in different Swiss cities are not only experimental, but also aim to contribute to the ongoing debate on the development of federal cannabis legislation. In Switzerland, 4% of adults currently consume cannabis, and the data collected as part of these pilot projects will play a crucial role in the development of the future regulatory framework.
