IS CBD LEGAL IN SWITZERLAND ?

Confused about whether Cannabis CBD is legal ?

We often get asked “is CBD legal?”. And for good reason, because you may find Cannabidiol regulations a little confusing. Cannabis laws are the result of a constant war between anti-drug campaigns and historical usage of the plant for its therapeutic properties. Lately, we have witnessed an increased interest from scientists studying the beneficial effects of the cannabis plant. Throughout recent history, the various laws regarding cannabis have shown many ups and downs. However, the future seems promising for cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD). Numerous countries across the world are decriminalizing the use of cannabis for medical use and even recreational use in certain countries.

By regulating THC, CBD strains can be legally grown in order for users to fully benefit from the plant’s effects. Why regulate THC? Because THC is the psychotropic compound responsible for getting you “high”. With that being said, many people find the laws regarding CBD oil and cannabis use pretty confusing. Is CBD legal in Switzerland and Europe ? Is Cannabis legal ? In this article, we will explore the various legal aspects of CBD and cannabis laws in Switzerland and Europe.

The Difference Between Cannabis and Cannabidiol

In order to truly understand cannabis laws around the world, we must first differentiate between cannabis and CBD. Cannabis usually refers to the cannabis sativa plant with high THC concentrations which gets you high. You may be wondering “what about CBD products such as CBD oil?” These are derived from a variant of the cannabis sativa plant called hemp, where the THC concentration is negligible. Not enough to cause a “high”. This is why high-THC cannabis products have different laws associated with them around the world compared to CBD products. Let’s dive into it and see where cannabis and cannabidiol are legal.

Is cannabis and CBD legal in Switzerland ?

Currently, cannabis is decriminalized in Switzerland and is legal if it contains a THC content of less than 1%. On the other hand, cannabis that contains more than 1% THC is illegal to possess, sell, grow and use. In most cantons, the possession of a small amount of cannabis containing a THC content higher than 1% imposes only a small fine for first offenders.

Medical cannabis is legal in Switzerland, provided that the physician has a special permit to prescribe medical cannabis to patients. It is however only to be administered to terminally ill or serious patients. So don’t think you can get a prescription of medical marijuana for your migraine.

Cannabis in Europe

Cannabis with high THC levels has been decriminalized in many countries for medical use, but remains illegal for recreational use in most (for now). Let’s take a look at the local laws in each country. Please bear in mind that cannabis CBD laws and regulations are constantly changing, so make sure you still check your local laws.

Countries where both medical and recreational cannabis are illegal:

• Russia
• Hungary
• Belarus
• Serbia
• Bulgaria
• Iceland
• Slovakia

Countries where recreational cannabis is illegal but medical cannabis is legal:

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Ukraine
• Poland
• Romania
• Greece
• Sweden
• Finland
• Norway
• Ireland
• Denmark

Countries where recreational cannabis is legal/decriminalized along with medical cannabis:

• Italy – recreational use is decriminalized for personal consumption in small amounts, however growing and selling of cannabis plants without a medical marijuana license is still illegal.
• Spain – recreational use is legalized only in private places such as at home or in specialized coffee shops. Public consumption can still be fined. Cultivation of cannabis is also allowed in private areas.
• Netherlands – licensed coffee shops are allowed to sell recreational cannabis, and possession of small amounts (up to 5 g) is decriminalized.
• Belgium – decriminalized in case of possession of a small amount of cannabis (up to 3g)
• Czech Republic – up to 10g of cannabis is decriminalized
• Portugal
• Austria
• Croatia
• Malta
• Luxembourg

Laws on Traveling to Europe with Cannabis

When traveling within Europe with cannabis, it’s best to check with the local laws of the country you’re going to. If you’re visiting a country where cannabis is illegal, you could be imprisoned or fined, or both, for trying to bring cannabis into the country.

For medical cannabis, you need to get a permit from the country you’re traveling to. However, each country has very different laws on the type of medical cannabis that’s legal. Thus, getting a permit can often take up to weeks or even months, so it’s best if you just leave behind the cannabis at home or travel to a country like Netherlands where cannabis is legalized and decriminalized, even for recreational use.

Traveling from the United States to Europe with Cannabis

If you’re traveling out of the United States, you shouldn’t carry cannabis with you because cannabis is illegal under the federal law and airports follow the federal laws. In fact, if you’re caught in possession of cannabis while boarding a flight out of the country, you may be held for drug trafficking, which is a serious allegation. Thus, if you’re traveling to Europe from the United States or vice versa, leave the cannabis behind at home!

You can get legal cannabis in some European countries, so it’s best not to take any risks because the consequences can be very serious.

Is CBD legal in Europe ?

CBD refers to cannabidiol, a chemical compound that’s extracted from the leaves, flowers and stems of the hemp plant, which contains a very low concentration of the psychoactive compound, THC.

CBD oil is legal across most countries of Europe, provided that the THC concentration by dry weight is less than 0.2%. There are variations in laws across the continent and CBD oil is even illegal in some countries.

Here are some of the cannabidiol laws in Europe:

• Most countries across Europe have legalized CBD oil as long as it contains less than 0.2% THC by dry weight.
• CBD is classified as a novel food according to EU’s Regulation 2015/2283.
• In Luxembourg and Austria, cannabidiol with a THC content of less than 0.3% is legal.
• In Switzerland, CBD oil is legal if the THC content is less than 1%.
• CBD oil is completely illegal in some countries like Lithuania and Slovakia.
• In France and Germany, CBD products are only legal if they have less than 0,2% THC.

CBD is legal in the United Kingdom

Cannabidiol is legal in the United Kingdom provided it doesn’t contain any THC. Moreover, it should be extracted from an industrial hemp strain that the EU has approved. Thus, full-spectrum CBD which also contains THC is illegal in the United Kingdom, while Broad Spectrum and CBD isolate are legal.

Apart from this, medical CBD that contains THC in a 1:1 ratio is also legal, but only for patients with a medical cannabis prescription. And this prescription is far more difficult to obtain than in other countries like the United States.

Buying CBD oil / products in Switzerland and Europe

Buying CBD oil or other Cannabidiol products in Switzerland and Europe has become very easy. Since CBD is now legal in most countries, you can easily buy Cannabidiol online or in a CBD shop. Just be aware to check that the THC concentrations are below the legal limit in your country. Reputable brands usually have lab test results available if you ask them.

For example, if you reside in a country where CBD is legal , you can easily buy our Swiss CBD products online. From the convenience of your own home, you can get your Cannabidiol delivered to your doorstep from our online shop.

It’s best to get your CBD products online in Europe and Switzerland since you can buy directly from manufacturers. However, make sure you get it from a reputable brand like 1807 Blends to be sure that the product you get is completely legal, safe to consume and free from contaminants. Beware also of other brands that are white label brands, i.e.: they do not manufacture or make their own products. This can be dangerous since they are not in control of their products’ quality standards. This is why we have ensured we control every step of our production process, from the plants we plant in our farm, to the lab testing and packaging of our CBD oils and other derived Cannabidiol products.

Is CBD legal then ?

Is CBD legal ? As you can see from this article, it really depends on the country you reside in. Cannabidiol is however being democratized, with more and more countries adopting it as a legal substance. However there are still grey areas that are not necessarily clear to people. So if you have any doubts, feel free to get in touch with us or leave a comment below – our team is here to help. And if everything is crystal clear for you, look no further ! Shop for your favorite Swiss CBD oil online and get it delivered to your doorstep!