Skip to main content

The National Council is examining the cost effects of cannabis in medicine

GLP National Councillor Fabienne Stämpfli has submitted a motion instructing the Federal Council to examine whether a wider use of cannabis-based medicines could lead to savings in the healthcare system. Furthermore, the motion calls for an investigation into the impact of including cannabis-based medicines in the Federal Office of Public Health's list of specialties.

Potential for lower healthcare costs

Many patients report that they have been able to reduce or even completely discontinue other medications thanks to cannabis-based medicines. At the same time, many experience improvements in their quality of life, sleep quality, and, in some cases, their ability to work. However, these potential cost savings and economic benefits have so far received little systematic investigation.

Access is expensive

Although doctors have been allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicines without special authorization since 2022, most patients have to pay for their treatment themselves. An estimated 10,000 people in Switzerland rely on cannabis-based medicines, while only around 70 receive reimbursement from their health insurance. Significant price differences between pharmacies further increase the financial burden for patients.

MEDCAN welcomes the examination

We expressly welcome this initiative. For years, those affected have reported that cannabis-based medicines not only alleviate symptoms but can also often reduce the need for other medications. A scientifically sound analysis of the actual costs and benefits is therefore long overdue.

This initiative is an important step towards an objective discussion about the role of cannabis in medicine and could help to improve access for patients in the long term.
Open letter to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre: More openness towards medical cannabis...
July 25, 2026
Media release – Four years of cannabis prescriptions...
July 22, 2026
Four years of cannabis prescriptions – a retrospective as a patient...
July 19, 2026
Licensed Medicinal Products instead of individual therapy – a step backwards for cannabis medicine...
July 13, 2026
International conference in Geneva: Medical cannabis in clinical practice ...
June 28, 2026
The National Council is examining the cost effects of cannabis in medicine...
June 22, 2026
mechoulam.de – over 1000 cannabis studies available ...
June 19, 2026
Esther Steinmann – a voice that lives on...
June 18, 2026
CannaTrade 2026 – three successful days for MEDCAN ...
June 14, 2026
CanMed Ticino – A patient association for Ticino ...
May 23, 2026
Telemedicine – An efficient way to your cannabis medicine...
May 19, 2026
CBD under pressure: EU classifies cannabidiol as toxic to reproduction...
May 16, 2026
Cannabis patients from Ticino are also beginning to tell their stories in the media...
May 15, 2026
Four years of medical cannabis: progress, hurdles – and why we as an Association must continue to fight...
April 29, 2026
CannaTrade 2026 – Program now online ...
March 24, 2026
Annual Report 2025 ...
March 23, 2026
How desperation led to an effective method of cannabis consumption...
February 17, 2026
Invitation to the MEDCAN General Assembly 2026 ...
January 30, 2026
Driving and cannabis: Why research is urgently needed...
January 30, 2026
Become a member of MEDCAN in 2026...
January 27, 2026
MEDCAN featured on the SRF program "Gesundheit heute" ...
January 27, 2026
CannaTrade 2026 ...
January 14, 2026
Annual closing letter from the President ...
December 16, 2025
MEDCAN takes a stand: Patient perspective on the new cannabis products law...
December 10, 2025
Cannabis as medicine: reality versus BAG statistics ...
November 1, 2025
“We, The Patients” in Bern...
October 24, 2025
A morning in the Federal Parliament Building – MEDCAN in direct exchange with politicians...
September 17, 2025
Cannabis legalization: Federal Council launches consultation process...
September 3, 2025
"We, The Patients" – Cannabis for chronic pain...
August 27, 2025
PHYTOMED AG: Continuing education courses on cannabis in medicine, Autumn 2025 ...
August 20, 2025
Medcan Online Roundtable – Exchange on Cannabis in Medicine ...
August 13, 2025
Well-deserved summer holidays...
June 28, 2025
Open letter to the Health Commission – For fair cannabis regulation...
June 23, 2025
Looking back: MEDCAN at the Buds & Beats Festival 2025 ...
June 3, 2025
Home Growing Workshop – a successful start...
June 3, 2025
Home Growing Workshop – by patients for patients...
May 12, 2025
MEDCAN'S thoughts on the current price trends for medical cannabis...
April 27, 2025
A clear separation between medical and Recreational Consumption ...
April 25, 2025
Association MEDCAN in the media – visible, in demand and more important than ever...
April 23, 2025
We, The Patients – Workshop Cannabis Home Cultivation ...
April 9, 2025
“We, The Patients” – Our first patient-by-patient event in Zurich was a complete success! ...
March 8, 2025
Cannabis in medicine – professional and patient organizations must also take action! ...
March 3, 2025
How can you get the costs of cannabis medication covered by your health insurance? ...
January 25, 2025
“We, The Patients” – First event in Zurich on March 1, 2025 ...
January 24, 2025
Mark your calendars: The Annual General Meeting will take place on April 26, 2025...
January 22, 2025
Newsletter now available in 4 languages...
January 19, 2025
Buds and Beats Festival 2025...
January 17, 2025
PHYTOMED AG: Continuing education courses on cannabis in medicine 2025 ...
January 8, 2025
A question that deeply affected our president and still haunts her today. ...
January 8, 2025
Press release: 10 years of the Medical Cannabis Association Switzerland ...
December 17, 2024
Interprofessional training: "Cannabis as medicine – From Plant to Patient" ...
December 17, 2024
MEDCAN 2024 Year in Review ...
December 14, 2024
10 Years Association MEDCAN – A Decade in the Fight Against Prejudice and for Patients' Rights ...
December 14, 2024
Modern medicine needs to seriously rethink pain therapy...
December 9, 2024
Driving with medical cannabis – a complex challenge...
December 2, 2024
"We, The Patients" – Webinars and events for patients, by patients...
November 18, 2024
Press release: Administrative court ruling highlights the stigma still faced by cannabis patients….
August 4, 2024
Cannabis as medicine – legal since 2022...
July 31, 2024
How does cannabis work medically? ...
July 31, 2024
Visit us at the Hemparade on August 31, 2024! ...
July 31, 2024
Letter for clarification – if your doctor is unwilling to help with a cannabis prescription...
July 29, 2024
Summer break at MEDCAN – time to recharge and optimize...
July 8, 2024
Prescription cannabis for chronically ill patients – why MEDCAN is still needed even after the change in the law...
July 8, 2024
MEDCAN at CannaTrade 2024...
May 31, 2024
Visit us at CannaTrade 2024: International Hemp Fair in Zurich! ...
April 27, 2024
Germany decriminalizes cannabis and allows legal consumption...
March 22, 2024
MEDCAN Annual Report 2023 ...
March 16, 2024
Patients in Vienna are demanding fair access to the medical use of cannabis...
March 13, 2024
The new MEDCAN website is online...
February 20, 2024
Cannabis as Medicine – From Plant to Patient ...
February 14, 2024
CannaTrade – International Hemp Fair and Festival ...
February 13, 2024
Invitation to the AGM on the 420th...
February 13, 2024
Referring to cannabis patients as "stoners" is wrong and inappropriate...
February 13, 2024
A look back at 2023 and a look ahead to our 10th anniversary...
December 3, 2023
Continuing education focus: Cannabinoids in medicine ...
November 26, 2023
The Doctor – Franjo Grotenhermen ...
October 26, 2023
Cannabis terpenes and their diverse effects...
October 17, 2023
The history of cannabis – between prohibition and legalization...
September 11, 2023
PHYTOMED AG offers training courses on the medical application of cannabis...
July 26, 2023
One year after the amendment to the Narcotics Act, MEDCAN takes stock of medical cannabis in Switzerland...
July 24, 2023
MEDCAN – 10 years of tireless dedication to cannabis as medicine...
July 23, 2023
Swiss ADHD patients face significant challenges in obtaining medical prescriptions for cannabis...
July 23, 2023
MEDCAN is taking a summer break – we'll be back in September...
June 25, 2023
MEDCAN information platform on Telegram for the medical use of cannabis...
May 31, 2023
Shirt parade in the Zurich Oberland ...
May 25, 2023
CannaTrade 2023 – International Hemp Fair and Festival for Business and End Customers ...
April 24, 2023
Medical prescription of cannabis – a review after 258 days...
April 14, 2023
Cannabis flowers from Neuro login – a first user report...
January 30, 2023
Cannabis flowers for medical use are finally available in Swiss pharmacies...
December 28, 2022
Cannabinoid Conference 2022 ...
September 25, 2022
A day to celebrate! ...
July 31, 2022
SRF Puls: Cannabis – From hippie drug to medical hype...
April 27, 2022
Cannabidiol ban in Switzerland: CBD oil must be rendered inedible. ...
April 9, 2022
IACM Patient Council – an international coalition for cannabis patients...
March 26, 2022
Pitch Night Zurich: Perspectives on Health ...
September 26, 2020
A cannabis patient had to be rushed to the hospital due to "fake cannabis"...
July 31, 2020
The situation on the black market is becoming increasingly dangerous for cannabis patients...
July 19, 2020
SRF Reporter: My second life with tetraplegia...
June 14, 2020
MEDCAN on the 10vor10 news program: We urgently need affordable medications! ...
March 12, 2020
MEDCAN is also gaining international recognition...
March 7, 2020