The history of the versatile plant
Cannabis has been used for a variety of applications in various cultures for thousands of years. From medical treatments to the production of textiles and rope, cannabis has had a wide range of uses. Cannabis was widespread in Switzerland at the beginning of the 20th century and was sold in pharmacies for medicinal purposes. This positive use was very different from its later criminalization.
The beginning of Prohibition
In the early years of the 20th century, public opinion about cannabis began to change, particularly in the United States. This happened because of disinformation and the unfair association of cannabis with immigrants and marginalized communities. Sensationalist media reports and general ignorance about the effects of cannabis contributed to an atmosphere of fear and paranoia that eventually led to prohibition.
A car made from hemp
Henry Ford began experimenting with the use of renewable raw materials such as hemp to produce fuel and plastics as early as 1910. In 1941 he presented the Hemp Car as the “car of the future”. The body was made from an innovative blend of hemp and soy fibers, which were significantly more impact-resistant than metal. The Hemp Car weighed only 900 kilograms, about 450 kilograms less than cars with conventional metal bodies. Despite promising features, the Hemp Car was surprisingly discontinued at the end of 1941. There is speculation about conflicts between agricultural culture and industrialization as well as the interests of the cotton and hemp industries. The Hemp Car remains a testament to Henry Ford's visionary ideas for a more sustainable world with hemp as an important raw material. Hypothetically speaking, the question arises as to what our world might look like today if hemp had not been banned and such innovations had been pursued.
Racism and economic interests
Harry J. Anslinger, a bureaucrat with racist tendencies, played a crucial role in shaping cannabis legislation in the United States. He waged an aggressive anti-cannabis campaign that fueled racial prejudice and led to racially discriminatory prosecutions of cannabis offenses. Anslinger spread false information about its effects, claiming it led to violence and madness. At the same time, there were economic interests that promoted the criminalization of cannabis as it was seen as a threat to the emerging plastics and paper industries. In his speech to parliament in 1951, the then Swiss Federal Councilor Philipp Etter adopted the false statements about hemp consumption from Harry J. Anslinger, head of the American drug squad. Etter's opinion led to the ban and thus the disappearance of the domestic cultivated and medicinal plant hemp - after the Second World War, still under emergency law. The fear of “devil’s weed” stirred up in the USA was so contagious that cannabis was banned in Switzerland without any scientific basis. In the opinion: Anyone who smokes marijuana becomes addicted, and drug addiction is a danger to the state.
International agreements and medical research
The Association of Nations' 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs consolidated global prohibition by classifying cannabis as particularly dangerous and strictly regulating it. This ignored the nuanced aspects of the plant and its medicinal potentials. Despite known therapeutic properties, medical research into cannabis was massively hampered by prohibition, depriving millions of people of potential treatment options for decades.
Harry Anslinger and his marijuana lies
After Harry Anslinger's death, his so-called "archive" was viewed, which contained around 200 horror stories from tabloid newspapers. Historians have taken a closer look at these stories and found that 198 of them were either false or outright lies. Anslinger was known for his dubious methods of spreading misinformation about marijuana, contributing to the creation of prejudice against the substance. To this day, many countries have bans based on these lies. These views need to be reconsidered and changed at the international level.
The change in cannabis legislation in Switzerland
In the years after 2000, Swiss cannabis policy changed significantly. During this time, “hemp shops” emerged that sold scented sachets and bath additives, but actually offered cannabis flowers for consumption. This led to a brief period in which the purchase of cannabis was legal in Switzerland. Although the popular initiative “For a sensible hemp policy with effective protection of minors” was rejected in 2008, it sparked an important debate about cannabis consumption. In 2011, a significant step towards medical use took place. Doctors were given the authority to prescribe cannabis to treat specific illnesses with a special permit from the Federal Office of Public Health. However, the decisive progress came in 2022 with another change in the law. Today, medical professionals are solely responsible for prescribing cannabis and can use it to treat a wide range of medical conditions. This change aims to give patients better access to this therapy option. This development is a milestone and underlines the increasing acceptance of the medical use of cannabis. Pilot projects for the controlled distribution of recreational cannabis are currently underway in Switzerland. These projects are intended to show a path to possible future legalization.
Recent developments and the fight against stigma
In recent years, the world has become increasingly aware of the suffering the cannabis ban has caused for many patients. Many who rely on cannabis as medicine have suffered disproportionately due to the stigma and criminalization associated with it. These people have dared to share their stories and experiences, and this has been instrumental in influencing public opinion and paving the way for reform.
The role of patient organizations
Patient organizations such as the Association MEDCAN play a crucial role in this change. They are passionate about fighting stigma and refuting misinformation in various countries. The members of these organizations are often people who have experienced firsthand the positive effects of the medical use of cannabis. They are active supporters of legalization and work hard to influence public opinion. To ensure that something changes internationally and that the rights and interests of patients worldwide are protected, the IACM Patient Council was founded. Together, this international coalition of patient organizations tries to give those affected a voice on a global level and to change minds about cannabis in medicine. MEDCAN has also taken an active part in this coalition and regularly takes part in the meetings. IACM Patient Council website here
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