Official figures are far below reality.
Recently, SP National Councillor Anna Rosenwasser the Federal Council how many people in Switzerland currently use cannabis for medicinal purposes. The answer was sobering: according to the Federal Council, there are around 1200 patients .
This figure caused great astonishment among patients, pharmacies, and the industry – as it bears no relation to reality. Experts and manufacturers unanimously report increasing prescriptions and rising sales , clearly demonstrating the growing interest in this form of therapy.
This trend is also clearly evident at MEDCAN: We receive more than five new inquiries per week – and the number is rising. Our educational efforts have increased significantly. Particularly in French-speaking Switzerland, it remains difficult to find medical professionals willing to support cannabis therapy – a gap our Association is trying to fill.
A faulty data collection system
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) bases its estimate on the MeCanna database , which was created to statistically record the medical use of cannabis.
In practice, however, this system hardly works:
- Many doctors don't enter their cases at all , even though they are obligated to do so. The reason: It takes about 15 minutes per case – without any compensation .
- only a fraction of the actual prescriptions appear in the statistics.
- Often only incomplete or negative trends recorded, which further distorts the picture.
Even representatives of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) have confirmed that the data incomplete . Nevertheless, policymakers continue to rely solely on these incomplete figures.
In a way, you can't really blame the medical professionals, since all the work falls on their shoulders. But if you are currently under treatment, ask your doctor to fill out this database – because that's the only way to get a realistic picture.
Criticism from practical experience
Companies, pharmacies, and medical professionals who work with cannabis in medicine on a daily basis are strongly criticizing the official figures. Interest in the therapy is noticeably increasing , and more and more doctors are contacting MEDCAN to learn how they can prescribe cannabis .
The introduction of this legal amendment was simply poorly prepared : Many professionals and patients are still unaware that cannabis can even be legally prescribed. And only about 10% of treatments are currently covered by health insurance or accident insurance – for most, the therapy is financially unfeasible , even though it would be helpful.
We receive weekly emails from people asking how they can get support, as the therapy is helping them .
before the amendment to the Narcotics Act was introduced the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) estimated over 100,000 patients in Switzerland using cannabis for medicinal purposes. This means there is a large group of people who would benefit from legal cannabis therapy.
Concern for the future of the patients
It is worrying that representatives of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) openly stated at an event on legalization that cannabis medicine could be " coming to an end can be influenced by flawed statistics
Those affected experience daily how cannabis improves their quality of life – for example, in cases of chronic pain, neurological disorders, sleep disturbances, or anxiety. For them, cannabis is not a lifestyle product , but a medicine that helps them sleep, eat, and participate in life.
We demand that the medical treatment pathway be preserved and that health insurance companies finally take responsibility. Cannabis can demonstrably relieve have been to work thanks to the treatment
A look at Germany: A cautionary example
Developments in Germany demonstrate how fragile access to medical cannabis can remain. Following the 2017 legal amendment, initially considered a major step forward, the system is currently being dismantled step by step : cannabis flowers can no longer be sent by mail, many medical professionals fear reprisals , and patients are losing access to their supplies.
Data from the partial legalization shows that consumption among young people has decreased , and cannabis-related crime has also declined. Nevertheless, the law is being tightened – at the expense of those who need cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Appeal to politics and society
In Switzerland, access to medical cannabis remains complicated and unfair , but our law is good and could help many people. Especially if so many patients didn't have to pay for their treatment themselves. And unfortunately, even medical professionals are still not sufficiently informed.
“For us, cannabis is not a wellness product,” emphasizes Franziska Quadri, president of MEDCAN. “For many sick people, it is the only medication that helps them to relieve pain, sleep, eat, and participate in life. They should not have to fight for it.”
Conclusion and call to action
The official figures on the medical use of cannabis in Switzerland clearly contradict reality. Patients, pharmacies, and doctors experience the opposite daily: growing demand, increasing prescriptions, and great hope.
transparency, correct data and a clear separation between medical application and Recreational Consumption are needed .
Now is the time to tell our stories even louder. We will gather and analyze our experiences and present them to policymakers. MEDCAN is convinced that cannabis in medicine can reduce healthcare costs – through fewer medications, less nursing care, and fewer hospital stays. And that is urgently needed, as our healthcare costs continue to rise every year.
If you want to support our work:
➡️ Become a member
➡️ Make a donation
➡️ Tell us your story
There are many of us – and together we can make a difference.
