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The New Era of Cannabis in Switzerland, Open Access and Education Lead B SOMAÍ and Dascoli Pharma Partnership 

Jul. 07, 2025 by SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals

Switzerland has long been a country that wants to create a safe and sustainable future for its population — and the Swiss cannabis industry is no exception. Not only does the Swiss regulatory framework allow for medical cannabis access, but the country has also embarked on a social experiment to lay the framework for increased access in the future. Now, SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals and Dascoli Pharma are bringing advanced products and services to Switzerland’s medical cannabis industry and looking toward a bright future. 

A Brief History of Legal Cannabis in Switzerland

For more than 20 years Switzerland has loosely regulated cannabis. Cannabis was legal to sell, so long as it was intended for “non-drug” purposes. This led to creative retailers selling “duftseckli,” or small sachets filled with cannabis flower meant for wellness — similar to how lavender sachets or potpourri are marketed. 

Eventually, this practice was shut down. It was replaced by the regulation of cannabis oils in 2012 by several Swiss Cantons. Under this model, cannabis oils were grown by one cultivator, then extracted and sold by a pharmacy based on doctors’ prescriptions. 

In the early days of medical cannabis access in Switzerland, the Federal Office of Public Health had to approve all patient access. Doctors were burdened by a lack of formulations, lengthy approval documentation, convoluted processes, and monthly reporting. 

Swiss CBD Laws

By 2016, Switzerland allowed CBD flower to be classified as a “tobacco substitute.” This created a massive CBD flower farming boom in Switzerland. Fueled by hopes that Europe’s CBD laws would catch up, large cultivation facilities began producing high CBD flower which could legally contain up to 1% THC. 

Unfortunately, contrary to expectations, the European Union did not adopt Switzerland’s approach to CBD products. In 2022, the Swiss Food and Safety Board changed the rules and set two main requirements for CBD products: CBD oil had to be registered as a “chemical” that wasn’t for consumption and could only be sold at pharmacies, or it had to be registered as a “cosmetic,” for example, a mouthwash that was not to be swallowed. 

However, with all the infrastructure already built out and such a strong existing client base, these rules were basically disregarded and a “use-at-your-own-risk” approach was informally adopted. Swiss medical authorities quickly recognized the loophole and changed the rules to require a basic prescription (non-narcotic) to dispense CBD through a pharmacy. 

THC Laws in Switzerland

In August of 2022, legislation changed again to allow THC-rich medical cannabis to be distributed like a pharmaceutical narcotic. Regulatory oversight shifted to Swissmedic, the organization that regulates all pharmaceuticals in Switzerland. 

Under the new laws, cannabis flower containing more than 1% THC would thus need to be prescribed under the existing narcotics framework. Today, Switzerland has several thousand registered medical cannabis patients

Switzerland’s Experiment with Cannabis Social Clubs

2022 also saw the implementation of an advanced pilot project for social clubs. This opened access to cannabis flower with up to 20% THC, as well as other form factors like vaporizers and edibles. To date, there are projects in Zurich and Basel, and five others across the country have been approved. 

These Swiss social clubs can have up to several thousand members, and medical data on their consumption is gathered by partner swissuniversities. Both pharmacies and social clubs may dispense cannabis to members of this closed framework for research. Many are hopeful that this program will expand nationally via a full legalization effort in the future. 

Dascoli Pharma is a Swiss Cannabis Powerhouse

The idea of Dascoli Pharma began in August 2022 when Andrew Petronanos, a long-time cannabis pioneer, was approached by an agent offering him a pharmacy in Zurich. Dascoli Pharma was founded in November 2022 with the goal of providing cannabis to patients. Owning a renowned compounding pharmacy in the heart of Zurich was an ideal starting point.

In April 2023, Dr. Simon Nicolussi joined as Chief Scientific Officer. He has a background in molecular biology and became a key influencer in cannabis science after writing his thesis on the endocannabinoid system. He has since written many papers and even contributed to regulations for Swiss cannabis as part of his position on the board of the Swiss Society of Cannabis in Medicine.

Dascoli Pharma started with the basic idea of helping patients access cannabis through the compounding supply chain. The organization’s initial focus was on compounding and getting all the licenses to operate efficiently. In January 2023, Dascoli Pharma opened its doors as a conventional pharmacy. By April of 2023, they had passed all inspections, including mail order dispensing and dispensing to other pharmacies due to compounding capability. 

Leading the Regulated Cannabis Industry in Switzerland

Dascoli Pharma has produced many cannabis form factors, and, to date, the company delivers to every area of Switzerland. Dascoli is also increasing service to patients from seed to sale, and the team runs many educational events for both doctors and patients. Swiss doctors still have a major need for education in order to truly open access to patients, and Dascoli is a key player in education and developing both the medical and social framework for cannabis in Switzerland. 

For Dascoli Pharma, it’s all about the patients. The company believes that opening access, supporting patients as they navigate insurance coverage of medical cannabis, and providing other support for many demographics will improve quality of life. 

SOMAÍ and Dascoli form a Dynamic Duo in the Swiss Cannabis Industry

Dascoli Pharma chose to work with SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals after a rigorous due diligence process; the company is dedicated to only working with suppliers of the highest quality products that also uphold the highest pharmaceutical standards. 

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals: A Pioneer in the Global Cannabis Industry

SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals prides itself on having the largest portfolio of extracted finished dosage forms, as well as the most extensive magistral preparatory product portfolio and largest indoor flower portfolio in the entire global cannabis community. Servicing 12 countries, SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals is one of a handful of fully vertically integrated multi-country medical cannabis operators. 

With its patent-pending three-step extraction process, SOMAÍ is the leading extract sold in global markets and regularly publishes scientific data on its own processes as well as advanced formulations like products with higher bio-availability, faster acting products, and other novel form factors like gel caps, inhalation devices and oral gums. SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals’ indoor flower is non-irradiated, and the company’s products have attracted the biggest names in cannabis including Cookies Medical products, grown at SOMAÍ’s Lisbon facility. 

Guiding The Bright Future of Swiss Cannabis

Switzerland has always shone as the pinnacle of quality and service for its citizens. SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals and Dascoli Pharma have partnered to bring Swiss patients unparalleled products, education, and advanced cannabis awareness. 

The future of Switzerland’s advanced infrastructure, which combines medical access with social clubs, will undoubtedly be a model for other countries to follow, especially as companies like Dascoli Pharma and SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals partner to lead the way.

by Michael Sassano