Press release of Pure Holding AG on the decision of the Council of States on March 8, 2021

Council of States says yes to medical cannabis - The Council of States follows the proposal of the Federal Council with 42 yes to 0 no and 0 abstentions. The Narcotics Act will be amended accordingly. Medical cannabis can now be directly prescribed by physicians.

The amendment to the law will facilitate access to treatment with medicinal cannabis. The responsibility for treatment with medical cannabis now lies entirely with physicians. Affected patients and treating physicians will benefit from a reduction in bureaucratic hurdles.

With this historic change in the Narcotics Act, Switzerland is moving closer to countries that guarantee access to cannabis medicines (e.g., Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy).

This amendment allows to better leverage the potential of cannabis as a medicine. Here are the specific changes:
 

•         Prescribed medical cannabis now counts as a controlled, restricted narcotic. The cultivation, processing, production, and trade of medical cannabis is subject to Swissmedic's authorization and control system - like other narcotics used for medical purposes (e.g., cocaine, methadone, morphine).
 

•         Treating physicians do not have to request an exceptional authorization from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for treatment.
 

•         However, prescribing physicians are obliged to provide the FOPH with information on treatment during the first few years after the amendment to the law comes into force. The aim is to monitor the development of the prescription of cannabis medicines and to be able to understand their effects. It serves as a basis for the scientific evaluation of the revision, as well as an orientation aid for the responsible enforcement bodies and the prescribing physicians.
 

•         The commercial export of THC cannabis for medical purposes is now permitted.

•         The use of cannabis for non-medical purposes remains prohibited.

Pure Holding AG applauds the decision of the Council of States. Currently, we are in the process of preparing a state-of-the-art cannabis indoor production facility. We will produce flowers of the highest quality for the medical market. In addition, Pure Group has four THC exemption permits from the Federal Office of Public Health.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:  auer@pureeurope.eu