The Swiss city of Zurich has marked a significant milestone with the official launch of its cannabis pilot trial ‘ZüriCan’ this week.
The trials represent a major development in the legalisation and regulation of cannabis in Switzerland.
The second pilot, which began on Tuesday 22 August, will see participants in Zurich permitted to buy controlled cannabis products from selected dispensaries.
The three-year study aims to examine how the sale of cannabis products under regulated conditions affects the consumption and health of participants.
Swiss company, Vigia AG, a provider of track and trace software for the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of cannabis, is the Federal Office of Public Health’s (FOPH) official track and trace partner for the pilot trials.
The company has developed the Cannabis Dispensary System in partnership with the FOPH in order to reliably document the dispensing of the products.
The Cannavigia compliance software suite and the Cannabis Dispensary System (CDS) offer complete traceability for cannabis products, providing the FOPH with a precise overview of cannabis in circulation serving as the basis for proper comprehensive scientific research.
This data enables them to report to the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board, promoting transparency and accountability.
The ZüriCan project
The Zurich pilot project is the company’s most significant venture to date, with over 2,100 participants and 21 dispensary outlets, including pharmacies, social clubs, and a dedicated drug information centre. Each dispensary is authorised to accommodate 50 – 150 participants.
ZüriCan represents the second pilot initiative introduced in Switzerland, as well as the second project where Vigia is implementing its CDS solution.
The project stands out due to its customised interface connecting the Vigia AG software to research databases as demanded by stakeholders.
In a press release, Vigia AG’s product manager, Pia Meyer, commented: “This project reflects our commitment to ensuring maximum compliance with regulations while promoting transparency at every stage of the value chain, from cultivation to distribution. We aim to guarantee that consumers have access to safe, high-quality products that meet rigorous standards set by the FOPH.”
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Switzerland launches second cannabis pilot with support of Cannavigia software
