Published on 18 July 2024

Cannabis Research Zurich – Canton of Zurich

The social and economic consequences of legalising recreational cannabis use in Switzerland.

This pilot trial will compare the behaviour of participants who are able to obtain cannabis legally through the trial with participants in a control group who continue to purchase cannabis on the black market. The aim of the pilot trial in the canton of Zurich is to investigate the social and economic consequences of legalising recreational cannabis use in Switzerland. In addition, the effects of a self-regulation programme for the prevention of excessive cannabis use are to be studied. This involves a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

• Research questions

  • What are the effects of legal access to cannabis on various social and economic factors?
  • What are the possible underlying mechanisms explaining these effects?
  • Can the potentially negative effects of legalisation be reduced by offering a self-regulation programme?

• Legalization model

  Commercial market
  Sales through pharmacies and specialty stores

   

• Responsible organisation(s)

  Institution responsible for carrying out the study

  • ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute
  • University of Zurich, Department of Economics

  Contact

  • Dr. Andreas Beerli (ETH)
    [e-mail]

  • Prof. Dr. Michel Maréchal (UZH)
    [e-mail]

  • KOF FB KOF Lab
    Leonhardstrasse 21
    8092 Zürich

   

• Canton(s)

  Zurich

• Commune(s)

  • Schlieren
  • Horgen
  • Zurich
  • Winterthur
  • Wetzikon
  • Dübendorf

• Planned duration of the study

  May 2024 to December 2028

• Points of sale

  • Specialty stores
    
  • pharmacies

• Study type

  Randomised controlled trial (RCT)
  
  

• Sample size

  Planned total sample size: N = 7.500

• Funder

  Swiss Cannabis Research Association

• Links

  www.swisscannabis-research.ch/pilotversuche-cannabis