Cannatherapy

Cantons · FR

French and German are the official languages of the canton of Fribourg (Art. 6 Cst. FR), and the constitution names its capital in both: «la ville de Fribourg, Freiburg en allemand» (Art. 2 Cst. FR). According to the BFS, the canton had 350'918 residents at 31 December 2025. Fribourg is the largest municipality (39'599), followed by Bulle (27'276) and Villars-sur-Glâne (12'644).

Medical cannabis has been subject to the same federal rules in Fribourg as in every canton since 1 August 2022 (Art. 8 BetmG). Enforcement lies with the cantonal pharmacist, who is employed by the Service du médecin cantonal (Kantonsarztamt).

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Service du médecin cantonal (SMC) belongs to the Direction de la santé et des affaires sociales (DSAS), in German the Direktion für Gesundheit und Soziales (GSD). The cantonal pharmacist supervises therapeutic products and the businesses with a cantonal licence, and is in charge of narcotics control under the legislation on narcotics and psychotropic substances for medical use.

Pharmacienne cantonale / KantonsapothekerinContrôle des stupéfiants (narcotics control), Canton of Fribourg

Good to know

  • The use of French and German follows the territoriality principle; municipalities with a significant autochthonous linguistic minority may have both as official languages (Art. 6 Cst. FR).
  • Pharmacists and physicians with an authorised practice dispensary must draw up an exact statement of their narcotics stock as at 1 January each year and submit it by 15 February (fr.ch).

Pharmacies in the canton of Fribourg

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

Video consultations from the canton of Fribourg

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 Fribourg

  • Can I have my appointments in French?

    No. French-speaking patients from the canton of Fribourg have their appointments in English; German and Russian are also possible. The information call can also take place in Italian; the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Which office is responsible for narcotics in the canton of Fribourg?

    The cantonal pharmacist at the Service du médecin cantonal (Kantonsarztamt). The office's page is available in French and German.

  • Does the pharmacy have to be in the canton of Fribourg?

    No. If the physician issues a prescription where medically indicated, you choose the pharmacy freely, in the canton or elsewhere (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.

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