The Cannabis Production Landscape in Switzerland International Cannabis Corp. partnership with Breeding Botanicals International (BBI) to become the first licensed commercial THC producer in Switzerland. The history of ​cannabis production in Switzerland Switzerland is renowned for its approach to health and healing. The pristine landscape of the Swiss Alps is home to the top 5-star health and spa facilities in the world. It boasts one of the best overall healthcare systems, with the successful management of private and government subsidized access. A strong foundation has been laid for the introduction of medical marijuana. The treatment has become a valued option for pain and inflammation, stress and PTSD, sleep disorders and seizure management. Until recently, the possession of cannabis, along with cultivation and distribution was a criminal act in Switzerland. In 2011, Switzerland introduced a law allowing the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis with 1% or less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. The demand for the healing effects of CBD (cannabidiol) has greatly increased and the market has grown rapidly to now hundreds of stores. Medical marijuana containing more than 1% THC is not easily attainable in Switzerland, and licensed users are few. Cultivation facilities have been limited to research labs strictly regulated by the Swiss government. This same government is now taking a hard look at the benefits of medical cannabis with a higher THC content.
Opportunities for ​Medical Marijuana Processing and Distribution in Switzerland The population of Switzerland is 8.4 million, with an annual health care expenditure of 54.3 billion Euro. Low THC cannabis and hemp product sales sit at 87.8 million Euro annually. Medical tourists flock to Switzerland for surgeries, rejuvenation and other services. This tourist market generates almost 2.6 billion Euros annually. As the CBD and cannabis market grows, it will invite tourists looking to find the same quality and purity the Swiss are known for in their other health avenues. In 2018, between 66,000 and 111,000 Swiss residents used cannabis therapeutically. These figures are shocking when considering that just under 6,000 patients received permits from the Swiss Health Authority to access prescribed medical cannabis. There are hundreds of thousands of potential patients who could benefit from the potent health benefits of marijuana. Many experts on the subject have been surprised by the Swiss government’s reluctance to be more proactive in this area, especially in ensuring ease of access for those who need it. Rudolf Brenneisen, the Chairman of the Swiss Working Group on Cannabinoids in Medicine, feels that Switzerland will have a working model where Swiss pharmacies, under government regulation, can
provide access to medical marijuana to all patients within three years. To do this, Switzerland will need to ensure that there is enough access to distillate to hold up to the demand which is sure to ensue.
International Cannabis Corp’s role in cannabis production and distribution in Switzerland Breeding Botanicals International (BBI) is a medical plant producer in partnership with ICC. It is set to become the first company to be given a permit to commercially produce THC in Switzerland. Located in Thurgau, Switzerland, BBI has held two previous research licenses in THC production. The BBI facility is 10 hectares, and produces medical cannabis for the Swiss market, under Swiss Medic. Through BBI, ICC holds rights to proprietary genetics developed for outdoor cultivation on South American sites. To this day, Switzerland has only imported THC distillate from Canada, and has only sourced from secured suppliers. BBI’s licensing is scheduled to be confirmed by mid 2019 and will be a celebrated end to an 18-month process. The pilot project is a partnership with Hilti, in Liechtenstein. Haxxon AG, a second holding of ICC, has a 60,000 square foot facility in Regensdorf, just outside of Zurich. Currently, ICC can produce 2,000 kg of cannabis through the facility. After an expansion project, the output is expected to increase to 14,000 kg. The BBI and Haxxon facilities, with the support of product imported from Canada, will meet the demands of the Swiss medical system as it grows to appreciate the benefits of medical marijuana.
Switzerland’s Slow and Steady Reasoning could Win the Race Switzerland is not known for hurriedly throwing together plan, process, or product. It is no surprise that something as polarizing as the legality of cannabis and medical marijuana has those in authority taking their time to structure the process professionally. If the rest of Switzerland’s main markets are anything to measure by – think chocolate and cheese and healing spa treatments – the calibre of Switzerland’s medical marijuana, nourished by ICC’s partnerships, will be the pièce de résistance of the global market.