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Pilot trials with cannabis will soon be possible. Local organic farmers are supposed to supply the hemp. Is this realistic?
In reality, little speaks against the preference for organic Swiss hemp. However, representatives of the hemp industry fear that the origin clause could have a negative effect on the pilot tests.
One in three adults in Switzerland has already had experience with cannabis. According to projections, 40 to 60 tons of the intoxicating herb are consumed in this country illegally each year. It is only available on the black market.
Many cities now want to change that. As part of the pilot tests, consumers should be able to buy cannabis from pharmacies. Parliament has recently created the legal basis for this. The so-called experimental article allows experiments with scientific support. These are intended to show how the legal use of cannabis affects the consumption and health of the participants.
The SVP wants to support farmers
The bill was controversial in parliament. One of the reasons for the dispute was the question of where the hemp should come for the pilot tests. While the Federal Council’s presentation did not provide further details, the National Council required that “exclusively” Swiss organic hemp be used for the experiments. In the end, the softer version of the Council of States prevailed: now only “cannabis products that are of Swiss origin and comply with the rules of Swiss organic agriculture should be used if possible.”
With the origin clause, some parliamentarians wanted to strengthen Swiss farmers. For example, SVP representatives said in the council debate that if proponents wanted “state-funded cannabis programs,” at least Swiss farmers should benefit from them.
In fact, there is little to be said against giving preference to hemp that has been grown nearby and free of artificial pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. However, representatives of the hemp industry fear that the clause could have a negative impact on the pilot tests.
Michael Rüegg from the hemp community is one of them. The aim of the experiments is to investigate existing consumption habits. However, many consumers prefer indoor hemp or varieties that are not available in organic quality. Requiring these consumers to switch to other products distorts attempts.
It is also unclear whether Swiss organic hemp will be available in sufficient quantity and quality in time for the pilot tests. A maximum of 5000 participants is allowed per attempt. But with multiple cities planning to try it, the needs of tens of thousands of consumers may have to be met.
Growing cannabis is complex
In principle, hemp can be grown organically in Switzerland. However, it is questionable whether it is attractive to farmers in the current regulatory environment.
Because anyone who wants to produce hemp in Switzerland whose intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content exceeds 1 percent needs a permit. In order for the route of cannabis products to remain fully traceable, farmers must document the extent of the growing area and the amount of hemp produced and sold. In addition, the growing areas as well as the production and storage rooms are periodically inspected by the authorities.
Besides the administrative effort, the cultivation of hemp rich in THC also requires a lot of investments: the fields must be fenced and secured, cameras and motion detectors and, if necessary, even a security service.
Switching to warehouses is not an option: Bio Suisse guidelines prohibit indoor production with artificial light. Instead, they stipulate production on land in natural light. This affects the quality of the cannabis. Indoor hemp is popular with consumers for a reason: Thanks to artificial light, controlled temperature, and regular watering, it has a constant THC content. In the case of outdoor production, on the other hand, the content fluctuates depending on the climate and soil.
Growing outdoors or in a greenhouse is not a problem in itself: hemp is a robust plant that can adapt well to the climate on the Swiss plateau. But depending on the variety, the yield and quality of the hemp flowers can vary. Therefore, the company Pure Holding is investigating in consultation with the FOPH which varieties are particularly suitable for organic outdoor cultivation in Switzerland. To do this, he grows around 1,500 THC-rich hemp varieties in Freiamt, Aargau. The large plot of almost half a hectare is fenced and monitored by video. The first harvest takes place in October and November.
In addition to growing conditions and choice of varieties, farmers will also need to pay attention to the origin of plant material. This is because processes are often used to produce seeds that are not approved for organic farming.
In view of these circumstances, it remains to be seen to what extent the experimental article will actually open up an additional source of income for Swiss organic farmers. That will also depend on how the Federal Council regulates the details of the new law.
If a referendum is not held against the experimental article, the first experiments could start as early as the summer of 2021. According to the Swiss Addiction Foundation, the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Geneva, as well as the cities of Bern, Biel, Lausanne, Thun , Winterthur and Zurich have shown interest.
