Cannatherapy

Cantons · AI

With 16'890 residents on 31 December 2025, Appenzell Innerrhoden has the smallest population of the 26 cantons (BFS). Appenzell is the capital and the seat of the cantonal authorities (KV AI Art. 15). In BFS statistics the municipalities are the canton's five districts (Bezirke), and by three residents the largest is Schwende-Rüte (6'194), ahead of Appenzell (6'191) and Oberegg (1'934). All districts lie in the German language region (BFS), and federal law does not list the canton as multilingual (Art. 21 para. 2 SpG).

Nothing about the federal rules is different in Appenzell Innerrhoden. The Narcotics Act applies in the same way in every canton, and since 1 August 2022 a physician no longer needs an exceptional authorisation from the BAG to prescribe medical cannabis where medically indicated (Art. 8 BetmG). What is particular here is how enforcement is organised: the canton keeps the responsibility, while the cantonal pharmacist of St. Gallen acts for it by mandate.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

For Appenzell Innerrhoden, the cantonal pharmacist of St. Gallen acts by mandate (Kantonsapotheke, Gesundheitsdepartement St. Gallen). Enforcement of medicines legislation within cantonal competence lies with the Gesundheits- und Sozialdepartement of Appenzell Innerrhoden, with the Gesundheitsamt as contact (GS 812.001).

Kantonsapotheke St. Gallen

This office belongs to the canton of St. Gallen and also serves the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Good to know

  • The narcotics section of the Heilmittelkontrolle page on ai.ch covers cantonal permits and bookkeeping duties. Physicians order narcotics prescription pads from the Gesundheitsamt, and narcotics for disposal are sent to the Kantonsapotheke St. Gallen.
  • Medicine manufacturers, importers, exporters and wholesalers in the canton are inspected by the Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich, acting under contract as Regionale Fachstelle Ost- und Zentralschweiz.

Pharmacies in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden

We have not found a pharmacy in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden 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 Appenzell Innerrhoden

  • Why does a St. Gallen office act for Appenzell Innerrhoden?

    Appenzell Innerrhoden has mandated the cantonal pharmacist of St. Gallen to act for it (Auftragsverhältnis). Responsibility for enforcement within cantonal competence stays with the Gesundheits- und Sozialdepartement, with the Gesundheitsamt as contact (GS 812.001).

  • Is there a pilot trial in Appenzell Innerrhoden?

    No. The BAG overview checked on 20 October 2026 lists no authorised pilot trial in the canton. Pilot trials are non-medical studies and not a route to medical treatment (Art. 8a BetmG); participants must be resident in the canton of the trial (Art. 14 BetmPV).

  • Can I use a pharmacy outside the canton?

    Yes. You choose the pharmacy freely (Art. 26 HMG). Where a prescription is medically indicated, the original paper form of the narcotics prescription must physically reach that pharmacy; with your documented consent it can be posted there directly (KAV position paper 0025).

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

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