The trials in Switzerland are a significant step towards legalizing and regulating cannabis. The second pilot, starting on August 22, allows participants in Zurich to purchase controlled cannabis products from selected dispensaries. The three-year study aims to investigate how regulated cannabis products impact participants’ consumption and health. Vigia AG, a Swiss company specializing in track and trace software for the cannabis industry, is the official partner of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for the pilot trials. They have developed the Cannabis Dispensary System (CDS) in collaboration with the FOPH to accurately document product dispensing. The Cannavigia compliance software suite and CDS ensure complete traceability of cannabis products, providing the FOPH with an overview of cannabis circulation for research and reporting to the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board. This promotes transparency and accountability. The Zurich pilot project, known as ZüriCan, is Vigia AG’s most significant endeavor to date, with over 2,100 participants and 21 dispensary outlets, including pharmacies, social clubs, and a dedicated drug information center. ZüriCan is the second pilot initiative in Switzerland and the second project implementing Vigia’s CDS solution. It stands out for its customized interface connecting Vigia AG software to research databases as required by stakeholders. Pia Meyer, Vigia AG’s product manager, emphasizes their commitment to compliance and transparency throughout the value chain, ensuring consumers have access to safe, high-quality products that meet FOPH standards. The investigation focuses on comparing health outcomes among cannabis consumers based on three different supply point models. Knowledgeable staff at these supply points will establish individual rapport with participants and provide tailored advice on cannabis consumption habits. A unique aspect of the ‘ZuriCan – Cannabis with Responsibility’ study is the inclusion of social clubs, which are the first non-profit associations in Europe where members have legal entitlement to purchase and collectively consume cannabis. The empirical insights derived from this study will serve as a foundational framework for informed deliberations pertaining to the pragmatic implementation of a responsible cannabis policy in Switzerland. Both cultivation companies providing the cannabis for the trial are also currently using the Cannavigia Compliance Suite during their production processes to ensure complete supply chain traceability. This is expected to improve product quality, harm reduction, and consumer safety. Supporting authorities by enabling transparency, this partnership between the government and a commercial business in the cannabis industry is unique. By combining both the CDS and Vigia AG’s Cannavigia Cannabis Compliance Software Suite, the companies cultivating cannabis for the projects can monitor their cultivation and supply chain to ensure the quality of the final products. The software allows the authorities to register study participants and enables dispensaries to track sales and quantities dispensed, ensuring only authorized persons can purchase the products. This includes a validation feature used by local law enforcement across different cantons. These efforts protect consumers, especially minors, and establish a transparent and traceable supply chain that can be maintained in a future legalized environment. The CDS provides the FOPH with an overview of cannabis circulation in Switzerland and supports reporting to the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board. Participant data is stored pseudonymously to ensure data protection. Philipp Hagenbach, COO and co-founder of Vigia AG, expressed his enthusiasm about the project, stating: “Our software ensures that participants and stakeholders adhere to the FOPH’s quality and legal requirements during the pilot trials. It collects all the necessary data for associated research and provides the regulator with the means to fulfill monitoring requirements according to international standards. We are proud to be a part of the current regulatory changes and have close collaboration with all stakeholders involved.”

You might be interested in Cannabis in Switzerland, which provides more information about the current state of cannabis legalization and regulation in the country. Speaking of cannabis consumption habits, you might also find Cannabis consumption an interesting topic to explore, as it covers various methods and patterns of cannabis use. Additionally, for insights into the international perspective on drug control, you can check out International Narcotics Control Board