Info association Legalize it! 2023

You can find the 2022 posts here, and the current ones here.

20.12.2023 – Winter break office from December 25 to January 5

Our office will be closed for the vacations from December 25 to January 5.
It is now time for our winter break, during which we want to recharge our batteries for 2024 and carry out various preparatory work – this is the only way we can stay on top of our topics.
During this time, we will not be able to take any calls or provide legal advice. We will try to answer inquiries by e-mail – but more complex inquiries will not be answered until January 8.
From January 8, the office will be available again as usual (Mon, Tue & Fri, preferably in the afternoon). Our association meeting will then take place on January 26.

We wish everyone happy winter days and a happy new year!

06.12.2023 – Magazine Legalize it! No. 100 is published & No. 99 is online

This week, our members received the current 100th anniversary issue of our magazine Legalize it! magazine. The somewhat thicker winter issue contains a mix of topics: The parliamentary initiative can continue to be discussed, the commemoration day for the Swiss NarcA, a book on the history of global hemp prohibition, the path to Legalize it! No. 100 with cover pictures and our social club «Hanfstübli» as part of the city of Zurich's pilot project.
We will make the complete magazine available as a PDF from March 2024. Become a member so that you are always up to date (e.g. also by e-mail) – you make our activities possible and support the association Legalize it!

We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! as PDF. The Issue 99 is now available for download both as a whole and as individual articles in the Justice, Culture and Scene sections. The current issue (#100) is still reserved for our members.

Fall 2023

14.11.2023 => Overview of the legal situation of hemp products

The Federal Council's report is 100 pages long and provides a comprehensive overview of the legal situation regarding the various hemp products. It also discusses possible new approaches, both for products that are already legal and for hemp as a stimulant. Anyone wishing to delve deeper into this topic will find a good basis here.

However, the report contains one error: adult consumers are not only punished with a “fixed penalty up to 300 francs”, but either with a fixed penalty over 100 francs (if the consumption was detected directly by the police) or they are reported (if more than 10 grams are seized, plants were cultivated or multiple consumption is to be punished). And then it can quickly cost 500 francs, or even a few thousand francs in larger cases!

01.10.2023 => Autumn break office 2. to 27. October

From October 2 to 27, the office will be in vacation mode. During this time we are only available by phone on Fridays, in the afternoon. Outside of these times, we are best reached by e-mail.

From October 30, the office will be available again as usual (Mon, Tue & Fri, preferably in the afternoon).

We wish you all beautiful autumn days!

11.09.2023 – Magazine Legalize it No. 99 is published & No. 98 is online

Last Friday our members received the current number 99 of our magazine Legalize it!. The autumn number contains a mix of topics: What to do in case of a criminal investigation, the latest federal court ruling on the minor amount, the hemp-prosecution 2009-22 (with a focus on age and weed/hash) as well as our social club «Hanfstübli» as part of the pilot project of the city of Zürich.
We will make the complete magazine available as PDF in December.
Become a member, so that you are always up to date (e.g. also by e-mail) – you enable our activities and support the association Legalize it!

We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! as PDF.
The Issue 98 is now available for download both as a whole and as individual articles in the areas of politics, justice, culture and scene.
The current issue (#99) is still reserved for our members.

01.09.2023 => How do we handle data?

We have summarized in an understandable way how we handle data. You can find our current Data Protection Policy at the bottom of each page (together with the Imprint and our Cookie Policy).

Summer 2023

24.07.2023 => Federal Court: Small amount cannot be confiscated!

The Federal Court's media release today is clear: anyone who acquires and possesses 10 grams of cannabis for their own consumption is not only exempt from punishment, but can also keep this amount. The police may not confiscate it (unless they also observe the consumption, in which case they may seize the material and issue a fixed penalty for 100 francs ). We will now analyze the exact text of the verdict. Afterwards, we will follow whether all cantons and also the customs will adhere to this Federal Court ruling and change their practice.

Since 2013 we have written this again and again, since the 9th edition of our legal aid brochure Shit happens. After four years the Federal Court made clear: a not punishable quantity cannot be punished. Now it is clear: this quantity cannot be confiscated either. It is a great satisfaction to be confirmed by the Federal Court after ten years!

Text of the federal court decision (in German)

28.06.2023 => Summer break office July 3 to August 4

From July 3 to August 4, the office will be in vacation mode. During this time, we are only available by phone on Fridays, in the afternoon. Outside of these times, we can best be reached by email.

As of August 7, the office will be available again as usual (Mon, Tue & Fri, preferably in the afternoon).

We wish everyone a useful summer!

14.06.2023 – Shit happens 15 as a foldout, our overview of THC & law in Switzerland

Over the past few months, we have completed the latest edition of our overview of THC & Law in Switzerland. This edition replaces our brochure, which we last published in 2021.
Now, for the first time, it comes as a 12-page foldout – with the most important key points on THC & Law. On each page there is at least one link to find further information about the corresponding topic in our wiki on hanflegal.ch.

Our members have already received a copy in the June mailing – but the new issue can either be downloaded as PDF or ordered on paper for a fee.

Even after all these years, we hope of course that no one will have to use the information from our Shit happens and the wiki, but the legal consultations and the numbers show that in Switzerland still dozens are reported every day for handling cannabis. Shit happens just… and for these cases we still recommend to remember the most important key points – so that everyone is prepared in case it does happen.

06.06.2023 – Magazine Legalize it! No. 98 is published & No. 97 is online

In these days our members receive the current number 98 of our magazine Legalize it! with the new Shit happens 15. The summer number contains a mix of topics: Legalization (book «Regulating Cannabis»), Legalize it! Social Club (pilot project), a first look at the 2022 prosecution figures and an update on the «Joint Index». We will make the full magazine available as a PDF in September.
Become a member to keep up to date (e.g. also via email) – you enable our activities and support the association. Legalize it!

We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! as PDF. The Issue 97 is now available for download both as a whole and as individual articles in the politics and scene sections – the main part consists of the 2022 annual report. The current issue (#98) is still reserved for our members.

Spring 2023

17.05.2023 – Hemparade on June 3 in Wetzikon

On Saturday, June 3, the Hemparade will take place at the Kulturfabrik Wetzikon.

Starting at 2 p.m., visitors can discover many things about hemp and its use: stalls with hemp products, a dab bar, glassblowers and presentations about hemp (e.g. also the one by Sven of the Association Legalize it!).

In addition, there will be food & drinks, accompanied by music as well as outdoor seating – and the best:
Admission is free!

We are already looking forward to an unforgettable day around the topic of hemp!

17.05.2023 – CannaTrade already over again

And already the CannaTrade is over again… We hope you were able to visit this year's fair – the official aftervideo is available on youtube.

The weather didn't really invite you to stay outside, but the lectures and panels were a good opportunity to find out what's going on in Switzerland at the moment – or unfortunately not yet… The videos will soon be available on the youtube channel of CannaTrade.

It was three days full of impressions and encounters – many thanks especially to Sonia and Sven for their commitment on stage!

20.04.2023 – Happy 420 and CannaTrade 2023

Happy 420! In three weeks the legendary Swiss hemp fair CannaTrade will begin!

From May 12 to 14 we will once again have the opportunity to explore and experience pretty much everything that has to do with hemp.

The fair will take place again this year (as in 2018 and 2019) in Hall 622 right next to the Zurich-Oerlikon train station - so it is extremely easy to reach by public transport.

In addition to the numerous booths of exhibitors from all over the world, there will again be a generous chill-out area under the open sky with a great culinary offer. In addition, a rich supporting program will take place again this year, covering many interests. At this point, the Joint Roll Contest and the CannaSwissCup should be mentioned – these are just two of many events, including lectures and panel discussions.
For example, Sven from the Association Legalize it! will first give a lecture on «THC&Law» on Saturday afternoon and then participate in a Discussion group. Afterwards Sonia will present the project “Legalize it! Social Club”(Hanfstübli) and take part in a Q&A session.

We are already looking forward to three unforgettable days around the topic of hemp!

03.04.2023 – Spring Break Office from 3 to 18 April

From April 3 to 18 our office will be closed for vacation.

During this time, we will not be able to take calls or provide legal advice. We will try to answer e-mail inquiries – but more complex ones will not be answered until April 20.

As of April 20, the office will be open again as usual (Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, in the afternoon). Our next members' meeting will take place on May 5.

We wish you all nice spring days!

22.03.2023 – City of Zurich pilot project has finally received definitive approval from the Federal Office of Public Health

Züri Can pilot project The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has given the green light for the start of the study of the City of Zurich pilot project.

The next step is to start the enrollment process.

More general information can be found on our pilot project page.

If you are interested in joining our Cannabis Social Club, you are welcome to join our waiting list!

08.03.2023 - Magazine Legalize it! No. 97 is published & No. 96 is online

In these days our members receive the current number 97 of our magazine Legalize it! The spring number contains – as it has for a long time – the annual report and conclusion of the past year. We will make the complete magazine available as PDF from June.
Become a member, so that you are always up to date (e.g. also by e-mail) – you enable our activities and support the Association. Legalize it!

We have also published another issue of our magazine Legalize it! pdfized. The Issue 96 is now available for download, both as a whole and as individual articles in the Justice, Culture and Scene sections. The current issue (#97) is still reserved for our members.

Winter 22/23

21.02.2023 - Association meeting 2023

Our AM took place at the end of January: We closed the year 2022 and confirmed the board for 2023. The annual accounts and the protocol will follow in the Legalize it! 97, which we will send to our members at the beginning of March.

14.01.2023 - Travelogue: Cannabis in Bangkok (Thailand 2022)

Shelves with bongs in the High Got You One of our members took a vacation in Bangkok (Thailand) in early December 2022 and reports on this experience in the Travelogue: Cannabis in Bangkok.

We hope you enjoy reading it!