Between pain and new hope
Gennaro was always on the go. He served in the military for a long time, in the Italian Navy. His body functioned perfectly, his energy seemed inexhaustible. Later, he worked as a chef in Zurich. There, too, things had to be quick, precise, and focused. "I was always on my toes," says the now 44-year-old.
In 2020, he was diagnosed with ADHD. For him, this explains a lot, but it doesn't hold him back. On the contrary: Gennaro works hard, lives life to the fullest, and loves to sing. In 2015, he even appeared on "Switzerland's Got Talent." Then everything changed.
His body reacted severely after the Covid vaccinations. He developed a fever, lost around 40 percent of his hearing, and suddenly suffered from incontinence and neurological disorders. He also struggled with fatigue and chronic pain. To this day, no one knows whether the vaccination was the cause. One thing is certain: from then on, nothing was ever the same again.
Gennaro seeks help. Doctors diagnose hearing loss and incontinence, but they can't find an explanation for his overall condition. Today he wears a hearing aid. A neuromodulator is implanted to treat his incontinence. Later, he moves with his husband to Ticino, but even in Lugano, the doctors are baffled.
No control over the body
Numbness and burning in his arms and legs, loss of control, sudden tremors: Gennaro's body does what it wants. Sometimes he drops things. Peeling a potato is virtually impossible. He wants to reach for a glass, but his arm won't cooperate. He wants to climb stairs, but his legs lock up. For a year now, he has relied on a walking stick or a rollator; his application for a stairlift is pending. He hasn't been able to drive for two years.
Three months ago, a skin biopsy finally yielded a diagnosis: peripheral neuropathy, a rare nerve disorder. No underlying condition such as diabetes or an autoimmune disease was found. "It just happenedMich ," says Gennaro. A genetic test is scheduled for June. The 44-year-old wants to understand why his body is reacting this way. He says there are neurological conditions in his family, but nothing comparable.
Medications offer only marginal help
Gennaro tries countless medications: painkillers, opioids. But the severe pain persists. At the same time, the side effects are massive: he becomes drowsy, loses his appetite, and barely eats. Instead of finding his way back to life, he feels increasingly detached from it.
Finally, in Ticino, he finds a doctor who prescribes him medical cannabis. His health insurance covers the costs. Gennaro receives cannabis flowers, around 100 grams per month, or about three grams per day. Everything changes for him. "It was like a domino effect: I slept again, had an appetite, gained weight, and was happy again." Most importantly, the pain is finally bearable. "My life felt worth living again." The cannabis doesn't cure his illness, but it gives him stability.
Health insurance company stops payments
At the end of 2025, the health insurance company suddenly stopped paying. Without any comprehensible explanation, according to Gennaro. A shock. Because paying for medical cannabis out of his own pocket was hardly financially feasible – Gennaro and his husband live on a small pension. For a while, he borrowed money and bought small amounts at the pharmacy. But at some point, he couldn't do it anymore. "That's it," he says. "I didn't want to go into debt."
Since then, the black market has been his only option. But the effect isn't the same as with the medicinal flowers from the pharmacy. Sleep and appetite improve somewhat, but the pain remains.
In April 2026, the situation became even more stressful: The pharmacy demanded the return of approximately 3,500 Swiss francs. Gennaro hired a lawyer, who also handled the issue of who would cover the costs. The case is now before the insurance court.
Gennaro is baffled. He says you hear similar stories everywhere: health insurance companies cover the costs at first and then suddenly stop payments, often without a clear explanation.
Labeled a junkie
Besides the physical ailments, the stigma also weighs heavily on Gennaro. In Ticino, medical cannabis is even more taboo than in German-speaking Switzerland. Anyone who consumes cannabis here is quickly labeled a junkie. "I live in Switzerland, but sometimes it feels really backward."
Gennaro finds support through MEDCAN. This encounter leads to something new: In March 2026, he and his husband found CanMed Ticino. The Association aims to make those affected in Ticino visible, to tell their stories, and to offer encouragement. "I am not alone," says Gennaro. "And I want others to feel that too."
