Switzerland has released the first data from an adult-use cannabis trial study known as “Weed Care.” … [+]
Earlier this month, Swiss authorities released the first data from an adult-use cannabis testing study in Zurich, followed by the implementation of the largest trial in the country’s history.
The latest study, announced on Monday, March 18, will involve up to 7,500 people, will run for five years, and participants in the canton of Zurich will be allowed access to regulated cannabis products.
Also, this is the first experiment to include a comparison group, meaning that participants will continue to source cannabis illegally, while the other two groups in the towns of Winterthur, Schlieren and Horgen will continue to source cannabis from participating pharmacies and stores. You will be able to obtain a product that has been
Data from all three groups will then be analyzed in a randomized controlled trial to help provide “unbiased evidence” on the impact of regulated cannabis sales.
Switzerland has become the first country in Europe to introduce a pilot program to legalize cannabis for adult use. Trials are currently underway in the cities of Lausanne, Zurich, Liestal, Allschwil, Bern, Bienne and Lucerne, as well as in the cantons of Baselstadt and Geneva.
Under these pilots, thousands of citizens now have access to legal cannabis products.
Data on consumer behavior and participants’ physical and mental health are regularly collected as part of research conducted by partner universities to monitor public health impacts.
This research will be used to determine the impact of regulated cannabis markets and determine future policy.
First published data shows ‘solid demand’
The first data collected through the “ZüriCan” pilot was published earlier this month, following a launch in March 2023.
Currently, 1,928 of the maximum 2,100 people have enrolled in the study and are eligible to purchase cannabis.
Initially, five types of cannabis products were available, varying in THC/CBD levels and genotypes. However, in December 2023, the number of products expanded to nine, including five flower-based products and four hash-based products.
European cannabis company Cannadia has worked closely with the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health to develop software used to track cannabis sales and provide data on consumption trends.
Every cannabis package managed through the cannabis dispensary system is uniquely marked to provide information about its origin, point of sale and recipient, said Tobias Wigener, head of marketing at Cannadia. explained in an email exchange.
Bigener said research results so far show “strong demand” for regulated cannabis across a “diverse range of products,” with about 16,500 sales transactions to date and 5g as part of the pilot. It is said that 140kg of packaged cannabis was distributed.
“Initial data from the ZüriCan pilot released this month reveals promising insights into the functioning of regulated cannabis markets and acceptance among participants,” he said.
“This level of engagement demonstrates positive acceptance and an effective distribution system, establishing a solid foundation to inform future cannabis policy and regulation.”
Demographic data ‘consistent with broader trends’
The data also highlights the demographic patterns of those who participated in the pilot, with significantly more men (80.5%) recorded than women or non-binary individuals (19.5%) .
This “significant preponderance” of male participants is “consistent with broader trends observed in cannabis consumption nationally,” Wigener said.
The average age of participants was 35 years old, with the largest number of participants between 28 and 32 years old, but the study is said to target a wide range of age groups.
Digging deeper into consumption trends, the data shows that the majority of participants consumed cannabis four or more times per week, and that approximately one-quarter of study participants had no evidence of cannabis use disorder before starting to access regulated products. It shows that he had.
Proponents of the study believe that introducing regulated sales would reduce the risk of harm to people in this category.
“Regulating the distribution of cannabis can create a framework that promotes lower-risk cannabis consumption,” they said.
“Reference Point sales staff are specially trained to provide advice and prevention, allowing for personalized and targeted advice. Study participants will always receive research cannabis from the same source. Over time, a closer relationship of trust is built and evolving issues can also be identified and discussed.”
All of this will serve as important insights for future policy development, Wigener says.
“These demographic insights and consumption data are invaluable in understanding the profile of regulated cannabis consumers,” he added.
“They provide a nuanced view of the initial impact of the pilot and lay the groundwork for more detailed analysis as the study progresses. We will contribute to a data-based understanding of
Researching the social and economic impacts of cannabis use
Cannavigia’s software is also being used in the newly announced Canton of Zurich pilot.
The study focuses on the social and economic impacts of cannabis, said Andreas Behli, director of research at ETH Zurich’s KOF Swiss Economic Institute, which is leading the study with the University of Zurich.
Researchers will examine whether adult cannabis use has a positive impact on health and public education, as well as potential negative effects.
“The purpose of the pilot in the canton of Zurich is to investigate the social and economic consequences of legalizing the recreational use of cannabis in Switzerland,” the Federal Office for Public Health said in a statement.
“Additionally, the effectiveness of self-regulation programs to prevent excessive cannabis use will also be studied. This will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs).”
Wigener said he expects these findings to be positive.
“Regulation can reduce the illegal cannabis trade, ensure product safety and quality, and generate tax revenue,” he says.
“Socially, it can contribute to reducing crime rates associated with illicit markets and improve public health through controlled access and education on safe consumption practices.
“Economically, creating a legal market can stimulate job creation and provide new sources of revenue for public services. Ongoing pilot studies, including 100%, will provide empirical data to test these expectations.”
What are the possibilities for future pilots?
Adult-use pilots are underway or planned in a number of major cities, and the federal public health agency’s efforts to “understand the comprehensive impact of regulated cannabis sales” indicate that more pilots will be conducted in the future. Mr. Wigener believes that this suggests that there is a possibility that
“While specific plans for further pilots will depend on the results and learnings from the current study, the positive progress and valuable insights gained to date indicate a strong foundation for future research initiatives.” ” he added.
“While there is interest and intention to carry out further experiments, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)’s main focus is to ensure that the research paper generates further insights into the market structure.”
