Switzerland has been in the news of late.
The country is, according to a recent slew of testoronic press releases, the latest jurisdiction to be hailed as the next future of regulated cannabis in Europe until it isn’t.
I suspect most of the sell originates from companies looking to raise capital in the country as and when some form of useable regulation actually rears its ugly head, although I suspect you’d be cuckoo to put a firm time frame on when that will actually happen.
Meanwhile before anything is even in place I have recently been alerted to an outfit called, Cannergrow (now Cannerald) from Fraubrunnen, Bern, a name I was only vaguely aware of as I don’t choose to schlep from aircraft hangar conference to conference over the European summer. I have to admit I have somewhat lost the desire to visit Disney versions of formally interesting European cities such as Berlin, Barcelona and wherever else these things happen.
This company’s name only came over the horizon after recent allegations emerged from reliable sources that they haven’t been paying a number of contractors, their own staff and most likely others this rag isn’t yet aware of.
So, who were Cannergrow and what exactly did they purport to do and how did the phoenix crawl from the ashes to become Cannerald?
Both questions aren’t as easy to answer as one might think.
The initial company model as explained via paid for articles and the usual word salad website mirrors many cannabis pyramids that have crossed this digital desk over the last decade.
From an article published in Disrupt magazine we learn that they initially self described as a CBD company that were operating out of Switzerland since those heady days of 2017 yet when one looks at the company directors domicile and registration details the waters muddy quickly as we flit from Cyprus, to Poland & Germany. But let’s return to these individuals in a tic after taking a stab at explaining what they do.
The model couldn’t originally have been be more Juicy Fields Dr Green and too many others I care not to mention.
Cannergrow’s original website which, it is explained, sells cannabis plants to “clients”
Disrupt write
Cannerald has its own plantation as well as its own Labour in Switzerland, which is adapted to local laws in Switzerland. The plantation with 1500 square meters is only 30 minutes drive from the capital Bern. In this location is not only the plantation for the cannabis plants, but also the offices and meeting rooms of Cannerald.
Anyone who wishes can be a part of the success from the Swiss company. For this purpose, the profits are divided fairly among the participants. 50% is paid to the investor and the other 50% to the company, which is used to pay salaries and also covering running costs for the company.
Through the website of Cannergrow, which belongs to Cannerald, you have the possibility to register for free and then purchase a cannabis plant. The current price for a plant is 1020 Euro. Harvesting takes place every 2-3 months and for each harvest the investor is paid 70 Euro. Incidentally, there is no fixed ending time for the harvest. Harvesting will take place for lifetime and therefore the plants can also be considered as a life-long investment. ( Source https://disruptmagazine.com/cannerald-the-leading-cannabis-company-in-europe/)
And the pitch for the simpletons who find the above a little too difficult to comprehend is .. Cannerald is letting you profit from their success.
No wonder they don’t have any money to pay their contractors and staff. As the Americans are so fond off saying, do the math, 1500 sq meters of cannabis plants isn’t in anybody’s wildest imagination going to pay for rent, capital expenditure, Swiss wage costs, logistics; shall I go on, I think not.
But nay worry dear readers because even our bright spark directors at Cannergrow realised that they could fool some people some of the time but not all of the people all the time and that well worn word in corporate circles comes into play, yes it’s time for a pivot and publication MMJ Daily duly rabbits a new plan worthy of Mike Myers character Dr Evil in all its laughable hubristic silliness.
From their Swiss lair it’s time to move into phase deux and yes what else but a “natural next step” for their “exceptional product”
Last year, Switzerland-based Cannerald switched from growing CBD-rich cannabis to fully THC medical cannabis, and now 90% of their production this year is already sold through contracts and agreements, as well as about half of the production for next year. “Given the exceptional quality of our cultivation facility and our upcoming GMP certification, the transition to fully medicinal cannabis was a natural next step.”,” says Levin Amweg, co-founder and CEO of the company.
At this point it starts to get very silly because although things are going well and the workforce is growing the Germans aren’t playing the game but maybe possibly it’ll be ok in a Switzerland that actually hasn’t got an operating regulatory environment yet.
It’s always best, I find, at times like this to let them dig their own graves.
Things have been going well for Cannerald, to the point that they also had to increase their workforce, and it is still growing. “We are on a hiring streak,” says Levin with a chuckle. “Next month, 18 new people are joining. In total, we are now around 50 employees. By the end of the year, I believe we are going to be 90–100.”
Like many medical cannabis growers in Europe, Levin and Cannerald are laser-focused on the German market, but also diversify their international clientele with the UK, Czech Republic and more. “When it comes to adult-use in Germany, there are social clubs, but so far, not many have been approved yet. That mainly has to do with the government being a little slow with licenses,” he remarks. Certainly, with a new government also taking shape in Germany as we speak, things are bound to be even a bit slower in the coming period.
However, real opportunities lie in the medical space.
“Medical is the way to go for the next couple of years,” he says. “
But I believe that, once social clubs and adult-use in Germany have picked up the pace, it will look like California.”
Things are moving in Switzerland as well in the adult-use space, though the framework will most likely be a bit different than in Germany. “The government wants to create a centralised approach where licensed producers operate under government control and sell their products only to certain retail fronts. Obviously it won’t happen overnight, but things will certainly come together in 2-3 years’ time.
In the meantime, Cannerald keeps doing what they do best. “These are very exciting times for us,” Levin says. “We are using our facility to its full potential, and we are pretty excited about the genetics we are growing. I couldn’t have imagined we’d be at this point two years ago.” ( Source: https://www.mmjdaily.com/article/9709675/the-transition-to-fully-medicinal-cannabis-was-a-natural-next-step/)
All I can say is if they think they are heading towards a Californian market and that’s something they think they can sell then they live in a world more obtuse than Blackadder’s Baldrick, “I have a cunning plan sire.”
Which leads me to the piercing question, who exactly are these giants of genius who inhabit the rarified air that is the Cannergrow C suite.
The company founders are named as Sascha Wäschle, Adrian Wäschle, Severin Jem Amweg, Levin Kim Amweg, and Maik Marcel Pietrowski with management roles inhabited by Tiago Ventura who is named as their Head of Branding & Marketing, Michal Drdák who is apparently involved in “connecting visions, people, and opportunities for medical cannabis”, Véronique Halter, their Head of Quality, Dr. Michal Wojcicki the Chief Sales and Medical Officer and a somewhat mysterious Philipp Oser who is just mentioned as “part of management” per the official company registry. Other additional top executive contacts are noted in some sources, but names and exact titles are partial or obscured.
Sascha Wäschle – Source Crunchbase
Per Business Monitor we get a little more detail on the management structure and share ownership.
It’s a little complicated but actually fairly easy to unravel if the key name(s) of co-founders Sascha Wäschle and Adrian (Sascha Adrian) Wäschle are highlighted and the roles the various companies play are understood in relation to one another.
MSL Industries GmbH, located in Freienbach, CHE-194.076.442, a limited liability company (SHAB No. 173 of September 7, 2021, Publ. 1005285798). Retired members and extinguished signatures: Silvan Abicht, a German citizen, located in Bremgarten near Bern, shareholder, without signatory authority, with 50 registered shares of CHF 100.00 each. Newly or subsequently registered members: Sascha Adrian Wäschle, a German citizen, located in Rottweil (DE), shareholder and Chairman of the Management Board, with sole signature, with 100 registered shares of CHF 100.00 each [previously: with 50 registered shares of CHF 100.00 each].
08.03.2022 / Further change (1005422168)
Strain Market GmbH, in Hergiswil (NW), CHE-197.558.499, c/o Megalink GmbH McLaw, Obermattweg 12, 6052 Hergiswil NW, limited liability company (newly registered). Articles of association date: July 22, 2019. Purpose: The company’s purpose is the trading, sale, and production of raw materials for biomedical products. Furthermore, the company’s purpose is research and the provision of services in the aforementioned field. It may establish branches, participate in other domestic and foreign companies, acquire or merge with similar or related companies, and enter into all transactions or conclude contracts that are suitable for furthering the company’s purpose.
Cannerald GmbH, in Freienbach, CHE-242.603.205, c/o Megalink GmbH McLaw, Pfäffikon branch, Bahnhofstrasse 13, 8808 Pfäffikon SZ, limited liability company (newly registered). Articles of association date: June 5, 2018. Purpose: The company’s purpose is the trading, sale, and production of raw materials for biomedical products. Furthermore, the company’s purpose is research and the provision of services in the aforementioned field. It may establish branches, participate in other domestic and foreign companies, acquire or merge with similar or related companies, and enter into all transactions or conclude contracts that are suitable for furthering the company’s purpose
18.07.2018 / Status change (4366299)
MSL Industries GmbH, in Freienbach, CHE-194.076.442, c/o Megalink GmbH McLaw, Pfäffikon branch, Bahnhofstrasse 13, 8808 Pfäffikon SZ, limited liability company (newly registered). Articles of association date: July 28, 2017. Purpose: The company’s purpose is the research, development, and distribution of software and technologies. The company may also acquire, manage, and sell related patents or licenses. It may establish branches, participate in other domestic and foreign companies, acquire or merge with similar or related companies, and enter into all transactions or conclude contracts suitable for furthering the company’s purpose.
22.08.2017 / Status change (3707573)
Source: https://business-monitor.ch/de/p/sascha-adrian-waschle-5420130
But here’s the rub the German financial regulatory authority BaFin has already issued a warning regarding Cannerald / CannerGrow for “public offering of profit participation due to certificates being issued without a required securities information sheet”.
This is a firm indication that the way they were marketing investment in cannabis plants or similar instruments may not have fully met with German securities law requirements.It is also worth noting that have only said that they “ intend “ to get GMP compliance, but as of the latest reports, some parts are “forthcoming” so the presumption must currently be that full pharmaceutical standard regulation may not yet be fully in place. cannerald.ch+2SKAN+2
We’d been contacted with information about the company and its opaque operations because contractors haven’t been paid for months as well as staff.
We now learn from sources that as of learly October 2025 that the company has secured investment in the region of 1.5 million swiss francs from an unnamed source and that previously unpaid wages have now been honoured. We’re not aware of what if any creditors have been paid and a figure of around 3.2 million swiss francs is alleged to be outstanding.
Cannerald have been contacted to comment on specific allegations raised in this story by CLR and no response has been received.
Also Read
Cannerald (CannerGrow) securities fraud warning from Germany
Cannerald, aka CannerGrow, has received a securities fraud warning from Germany’s BaFin.
As per BaFin’s October 14th warning, Cannerald AG is under “suspicion of public offering of profit participation certificates without required securities information sheet”.
BaFin’s wording is a bit janky but this is the equivalent of a securities fraud warning in other jurisdictions.
BehindMLM reviewed CannerGrow in August 2019. At the time CannerGrow claimed to be “a project founded by Cannerald”.
Cannerald in turn claimed to be a “Swiss research and production company of cannabis.”
The four co-founders of Cannerald are Maik Pietrowski, Levin Amweg, Severin Amweg and Sascha Waschle.
Cannerald and CannerGrow solicited investment on the promise of periodic passive returns.
The ruse behind the unregistered investment scheme was the growing and selling of cannabis through Cannerald.
Today CannerGrow’s website no longer exists. Cannerald operates from the website domain “cannerald.ch”, from which it still keeps up its cannabis plant ruse.
There is no disclosure of an investment scheme on Cannerald’s website. Only three of co-founders are named and only by first name.
https://behindmlm.com/companies/cannerald-cannergrow-securities-fraud-warning-from-germany/
