Cannatherapy

Cantons · BE

Bern is a bilingual canton: German and French are its official languages (Art. 6 KV BE). With 1'076'127 residents at 31 December 2025, it is the second most populous canton (BFS). Its largest municipalities are the capital, Bern (138'562), followed by Biel/Bienne (57'462) and Thun (44'163).

Since 1 August 2022, medical cannabis has been governed by federal rules that are the same in Bern as in every other canton (Art. 8 BetmG). The canton's part is enforcement, which lies with the Pharmazeutischer Dienst (PAD), the pharmaceutical service of the Gesundheitsamt. The PAD calls itself the Fachinstanz, the competent body, for medicines and narcotics in the canton of Bern.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The PAD belongs to the Gesundheitsamt of the Gesundheits-, Sozial- und Integrationsdirektion (GSI), the cantonal directorate for health, social affairs and integration. It supervises pharmacies, drugstores and the other businesses that manufacture, distribute or dispense medicines.

Pharmazeutischer Dienst (PAD)Narcotics, Canton of Bern (GSI)

Pilot trials

According to the BAG overview checked on 20 October 2026, the pilot trial SCRIPT is authorised in Bern and Biel/Bienne; the same study is also authorised in Lucerne. It is a non-medical scientific study under Art. 8a BetmG, and participants must live in the canton in which the trial is conducted (Art. 14 BetmPV). SCRIPT is separate from medical treatment, and our practice is not involved in it.

Good to know

  • In the Seeland administrative region, Biel/Bienne and Leubringen are the municipalities with both German and French as official languages (Art. 6 KV BE).
  • The PAD runs its own pharmaceutical control laboratory, the Pharmazeutisches Kontrolllabor.
  • The GSI page on narcotics is available in German and French and includes rules for travelling with narcotic medicines. Our article on travelling with prescribed medication covers the federal rules.

Pharmacies in the canton of Bern

These pharmacies state on their own website that they dispense medical cannabis on prescription. A factual list, not a recommendation.

Video consultations from the canton of Bern

Pages for cities in this canton:

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 Bern

  • In which language are appointments for people from the canton of Bern?

    In German, English or Russian; French-speaking patients have their appointments in English. The information call can also take place in Italian; the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Is the SCRIPT pilot trial part of medical treatment?

    No. SCRIPT is a scientific study on non-medical use under Art. 8a BetmG, and consumption for medical reasons is not part of pilot trials. Our practice is not involved in it.

  • Must I use a pharmacy in the canton of Bern?

    No. A prescription, where medically indicated, becomes the property of the person for whom it is issued, and that person chooses the pharmacy freely (Art. 26 para. 2bis HMG). We have no contracts with any pharmacy.

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.

Book your free call10 minutes with our physician · freeGet the patient guideFree PDF: process, law, costs
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