Switzerland’s project “Grashaus”
Switzerland is stepping into an innovative territory under a trailblazing project named “Grashaus,” preparing to open the first-ever legal recreational cannabis dispensaries in Europe. The ambitious initiative aims to examine and assess the impact of regulated cannabis access on the health and behavior of regular cannabis consumers among Swiss citizens. This pioneering effort spearheaded by Switzerland marks a significant shift in Europe’s cannabis landscape by initiating the first-ever legal non-medical cannabis dispensaries on the continent. The project is designed to delve into the potential consequences and implications of regulated cannabis access on the health and consumption habits of regular users. The study will provide invaluable insights that can shape future public health strategies, regulatory decisions, and policy-making processes related to cannabis use. “Grashaus Projects,” as they are known, were announced on a recent Friday. The German CBD and cannabinoid research firm, Sanity Group, declared the project in collaboration with the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research. This monumental project has received the green light from the Swiss government to distribute legal cannabis within Basel-Landschaft, a tranquil Swiss locality that is home to approximately 4,000 eligible study participants. The study will be spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, the Scientific Director of the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research. A variety of cannabis products for the study will be supplied by SwissExtract, a prominent Swiss cultivation company. SwissExtract’s CEO, Stefan Strasser, stated his organization’s devotion to delivering items of the highest quality, organic, and free from pollutants. He further stressed that all products are grown, processed, and packaged strictly within Switzerland, ensuring absolute quality control and the purest form of cannabis. The project’s initial phase involves the opening of the first recreational cannabis store in Allschwil, slated to welcome its first customers in late 2023. It will be followed by the inauguration of another store in Liestal a few months later. The five-year-long study will kick off with comprehensive health and eligibility assessments of potential participants, bolstered by regular medical and mental health check-ups throughout the course of the study. Once the participants pass through an initial informational event revolving around the trial and safe cannabis practices, they will go through a medical eligibility test and an online survey. Once they clear these tests, participants are allowed to purchase cannabis legally for a designated period using a participation card. Regular surveys will be carried out every three to six months to track and record consumption behavior and the overall health of the participants. The results of this study will shed light on the potential public health impacts of making adult-use cannabis accessible in Switzerland and the rest of Europe. This is particularly important in the current context as European Union laws, which Switzerland does not follow, have maintained a strict anti-legalization stand towards adult-use cannabis. However, this stance is slowly changing, with countries like Germany and Spain gradually transitioning out of cannabis prohibition-era policies. Leaders of the Grashaus Projects are optimistic that this significant move towards legal cannabis sales in Europe could provide vital data for other nations. This data could be instrumental in helping them regulate cannabis sales, and where necessary, provide mental health or addiction resources. As per Prof. Dr. Schaub, “The study can contribute to an informed health policy discussion on responsible cannabis use and serve as a foundation for long-term regulation decisions.” This trend of legalizing cannabis is slowly gaining momentum in Switzerland with several Swiss cities such as Zurich, Basel, Biel/Bienne, Lucerne, Geneva, and Bern, all receiving individual permissions to launch their cannabis pilot programs. However, despite gaining approval, Zurich is still on the lookout for 400 participants owing to a scarcity of cannabis consumers in the area.
…
Switzerland’s project “Grashaus” is a scientific pilot project that aims to study the effects of the structured and controlled sale of cannabis in two locations near Basel: Liestal and Allschwil1. The project is authorized by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and conducted by the Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction (ISGF) in collaboration with the Berlin-based cannabis start-up Sanity Group23.
The project will involve up to 3950 healthy adults who will be able to buy cannabis products in the designated shops for a period of five years, after registering for the study and agreeing to regular surveys on their consumption behavior2. The cannabis products will be of high quality, organic, and locally produced, and will have moderate prices depending on the THC content2.
The main goal of the project is to gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of regulated cannabis availability, such as its impact on health, social, and psychological outcomes, as well as on the illegal market and the help system1. The knowledge gained from this study will play a pivotal role in shaping potential cannabis regulations in Switzerland34.
The project is expected to start later this year and is considered to be the first legal cannabis shop in Europe2. It also has a signal effect for other countries that are debating the legalization of cannabis, such as Germany2.
From Microsoft Start Partners
Europe’s First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensaries: Switzerland … – MSN
Learn more:
1. bag.admin.ch
3. forbes.com
4. msn.com
5. bag.admin.ch
— see less
According to the current web page context, the participants of the study must meet the following criteria:
They must be healthy adults aged 18 or older.
They must be residents of Liestal or Allschwil, the two locations where the cannabis shops are located.
They must have a valid ID card and a Swiss social security number.
They must register for the study and agree to regular surveys on their cannabis consumption behavior.
They must not have any history of cannabis dependence or psychiatric disorders.
What is the duration of this study?
According to the web search results, the duration of the Grashaus project is five years1. The study is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will run until the end of 20281. The participants will be able to buy cannabis products in the designated shops for the entire duration of the study, after registering and agreeing to regular surveys1.
Learn more:
3. bbc.co.uk
What is the expected outcome of this study?
The expected outcome of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of regulated cannabis availability in Switzerland, such as:
Its impact on health, social, and psychological outcomes of the participants and the general population.
Its effect on the illegal market and the help system for cannabis users and addicts.
Its implications for potential cannabis regulations in Switzerland and other countries that are debating the legalization of cannabis.
How will they measure the impact on health and social outcomes?
According to the web search results, the Grashaus project will measure the impact on health and social outcomes by using the following methods:
The participants will have to undergo a medical aptitude test before being admitted to the study, and will be monitored for any physical and mental health issues during the study12.
The participants will have to complete an online entry survey and regular surveys on their cannabis consumption behavior, such as the frequency, quantity, and type of products they use12.
The study will also collect data on the illegal market and the help system for cannabis users and addicts, such as the price, quality, and availability of cannabis in the black market, and the demand and supply of treatment and prevention services1.
The study will compare the results from the two locations where the cannabis shops are located (Liestal and Allschwil) with other locations in Switzerland where cannabis is still illegal, to assess the differences in health and social outcomes1.
Learn more:
1. forbes.com