The first academic research on Switzerland’s landmark adult-use pilot, has reported a decline in problematic consumption, particularly among those who used other drugs in addition to cannabis.
Europe’s first adult-use cannabis pilot programme, the Weed Care study, launched in Basel, Switzerland, in January 2023, to examine how introducing a legal supply of cannabis could affect consumption and mental health among participants.
The pilot, a collaboration between the Addiction Department of the Department of Health of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the University of Basel, the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK) and Psychiatric Services Aargau, aims to help inform responsible and evidence-based cannabis regulations for the country.
In the first academic publication from study, researchers have been able to make a direct comparison between the effects of a legal cannabis supply, versus illegal procurement, using two randomised groups.
Out of approximately 370 participants, half were able to buy legal cannabis in one of the nine participating pharmacies and were offered counselling in the process. As a control group, the other half continued to use illegally-sourced cannabis.
The participants reported on their consumption and their mental state via questionnaires at regular intervals.
With previous insights based on purely observational studies, Dr Lavinia Baltes-Flückiger, deputy head of the study at the Psychiatric Services Aargau and lead author, said this is the first controlled, randomised study of its kind.
A decline in problematic consumption
Writing in the scientific journal Addiction, the research team reports a slight decrease in problematic consumption in the group with legal access to cannabis. [Consumption is considered problematic if it causes or exacerbates health, social or psychological difficulties – even without dependency in the classic sense.]
In particular, a more substantial positive effect through legal access was seen in people who used other drugs in addition to cannabis.
“In this subgroup, problematic cannabis use experienced a significant drop,” says Baltes-Flückiger.
The study was able to dispel some fears that legalisation could exacerbate the psychopathological symptoms associated with cannabis consumption in addition to consumption itself.
After the first six months, there was no difference between the two study groups in terms of depression, anxiety or other symptoms.
After this period, the control group, which had previously obtained cannabis on the black market, were able to obtain legal access through the participating pharmacies.
The interim assessment after two years of study shows a significant improvement in the mental state of the approximately 300 or so participants who are still taking part.
“Legal access eases the burden on consumers,” explains head of the study Professor Marc Walter from the University of Basel and Psychiatric Services Aargau.
Proposals for full commercial market
The Weed Care study is one of seven adult-use pilot programmes currently underway in regions across Switzerland.
Preliminary findings from these, published by the government earlier this year, identified trends in participants moving towards lower-risk consumption methods, and a ‘destigmatising effect’ particularly among those accessing cannabis through pharmacies.
Meanwhile in February, policymakers approved a draft proposal to establish a fully commercial adult-use cannabis market in Switzerland.
The draft for a federal law, which would enable citizens to legally ‘grow, buy, possess and consume cannabis,’ was passed with a convincing majority (14-9) by the National Council’s Social Security and Health Committee.
The post Cannabis Legalisation Reduces Problematic Consumption, Finds Swiss Pilot Study appeared first on Cannabis Health News.
Go to Source
Author: Sarah Sinclair
