Cannatherapy

Cantons · AG

Aargau had a permanent resident population of 743'768 on 31 December 2025 (BFS). Its constitution does not speak of a capital: Aarau is the seat of the Grosser Rat (parliament), the Regierungsrat (government) and the Obergericht (high court) (KV AG § 71). Aarau is not the largest municipality, though. Baden leads with 24'012 residents, ahead of Aarau (22'932) and Wettingen (22'027). German is the official language (KV AG § 71a).

Federal law sets the rules, and since 1 August 2022 it has done so in the same way in every canton, Aargau included: medical cannabis may be prescribed where medically indicated, without an exceptional authorisation from the BAG (Art. 8 BetmG). The canton supervises the professions and businesses that handle medicines, and it has its own Heilmittel- und Betäubungsmittelverordnung (HBV, SAR 351.115).

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Kantonsapotheker Dienst, the office of the cantonal pharmacist, belongs to the Sektion Medizinische Dienste of the Abteilung Gesundheit in the Departement Gesundheit und Soziales (DGS). It supervises the pharmaceutical professions and dispensing points such as pharmacies, drugstores, practice dispensaries, hospitals and care homes, and carries out or organises inspections.

Kantonsapotheker Dienst

Good to know

  • The cantonal pharmacist cooperates with the regional medicines inspectorate (RHI) run by the north-western Swiss cantons.
  • The cantonal page on medicines has sections on returning narcotics for disposal, by registered mail with a delivery note, and on Schengen certificates for travelling with narcotic medicines.
  • The BFS figures use the 197 municipalities of 2025; the BFS municipality register lists 196 on 1 January 2026.

Pharmacies in the canton of Aargau

We have not found a pharmacy in the canton of Aargau that states this on its own website. These pharmacies state that they send medical cannabis preparations by post across Switzerland:

The same federal rules everywhere

  • Since 1 August 2022, physicians may prescribe cannabis medicines without an exceptional authorisation from the BAG (Art. 8 BetmG). Whether treatment is an option is decided individually in the consultation.
  • Medicines with at least 1% total THC are prescribed on the official narcotics prescription, which is valid for one month (Art. 46 and 47 BetmKV). The original paper form has to reach the pharmacy.
  • You choose the pharmacy freely, in your canton or anywhere else in Switzerland (Art. 26 HMG).

The legal situation in detail

Questions about the canton of Aargau

  • Which office supervises medicines and narcotics in Aargau?

    The Kantonsapotheker Dienst in the Sektion Medizinische Dienste of the Abteilung Gesundheit, Departement Gesundheit und Soziales (DGS).

  • Does Aargau have its own rules on narcotics?

    Alongside federal law, the canton has a Heilmittel- und Betäubungsmittelverordnung (HBV, SAR 351.115). Medical cannabis itself is governed by federal law, the same in every canton (Art. 8 BetmG).

  • Can I choose a pharmacy outside Aargau?

    Yes. The choice of pharmacy is free (Art. 26 HMG), within the canton or elsewhere in Switzerland.

General information, not legal advice. It does not replace a medical consultation.

Take your time to decide. The free information call covers the process, the legal situation and the costs.

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