SCRIPT – Cities of Bern, Biel, Lucerne

The main aim of this pilot trial is to evaluate how cannabis use is affected by regulated not-for-profit sales of cannabis in pharmacies, together with advisory services. Any shift from smoking to other forms of cannabis use will be of particular interest.

One study group will be able to obtain cannabis products from the outset, while a second group will be able to do so after six months. The trial will then run for a further 18 months.

Research questions

The main aim of this pilot trial is to evaluate how cannabis use (frequency of use, preferred THC/CBD content) is affected by regulated not-for-profit sales of cannabis in pharmacies, together with advisory services. Of particular interest is whether participation in the trial leads to a shift away from smoking (both cannabis and tobacco) towards alternative forms of use. Also to be investigated is the impact of participation in the pilot trial on health and social factors.

Legalization model

Commercial market
Pharmacy sales

Responsible organisation(s)

Institutions responsible for carrying out the study

• University of Berne: 
  
  • Institute of Primary Health Care, Substance Consumption Unit (BIHAM)
  • Clinical Trial Unit (CTU)
  • Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin (ISPM)
  • Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD)
     
• University of Lucerne:
  • Zentrum für Hausarztmedizin und Community Care

 

Person for contact

• Prof. Dr. med. Reto Auer
  University of Berne
  Head of Substance Consumption
  Mittelstrasse 43
  3012 Bern
  [e-mail]
  [phone]

Canton(s)

• Berne
• Lucerne

Commune(s)

• Berne
• Biel
• Lucerne

Planned duration of the study

May 2024 to April 2026

Points of sale

Pharmacies

Study type

Randomised controlled trial (RCT)

Sample size

Planned total sample size: N = 1.091

Funder

• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
  
• Tobacco Control Fund (TCF)
• the participating cities

Links

www.script-studie.ch

Last modification 18.07.2024