Cannatherapy

Cantons · GL

Glarus has only three municipalities, and the capital is not the largest of them. At 31 December 2025, Glarus Nord had 19'849 residents, the capital Glarus 12'968 and Glarus Süd 9'634, out of 42'451 in the canton (BFS). The canton is German-speaking: all three municipalities lie in the German language region (BFS).

The rules on medical cannabis are federal and have applied in Glarus as in every other canton since 1 August 2022 (Art. 8 BetmG). For their enforcement, Glarus is served by the cantonal pharmacist of the canton of Schwyz: the Departement Finanzen und Gesundheit lists the office on its health page with a postal address in Schwyz.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

Medicines and narcotics control for Glarus, including inspections of pharmacies, drugstores, physician and dental practices and other dispensing points, is carried out by the cantonal pharmacist of Schwyz at the Amt für Gesundheit und Soziales of the canton of Schwyz. The contact within Glarus is the Departement Finanzen und Gesundheit.

Kantonsapothekerin des Kantons SchwyzNarcotics documents of the cantonal pharmacist, Canton of Schwyz

This office belongs to the canton of Schwyz and also serves the canton of Glarus.

Good to know

  • Glarus has the same administrative agreement (Verwaltungsvereinbarung) with Schwyz as Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden, according to the Uri government's answer of 29 April 2014 (ur.ch).
  • For inspections of medicine manufacturers and wholesalers, Glarus belongs to the region of the Regionale Fachstelle Ost- und Zentralschweiz at the Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich.

Pharmacies in the canton of Glarus

We have not found a pharmacy in the canton of Glarus 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 Glarus

  • Who is the cantonal pharmacist for Glarus?

    The cantonal pharmacist of the canton of Schwyz, who also serves Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden. The health page of the Departement Finanzen und Gesundheit lists the office with a postal address in Schwyz.

  • Which languages are available for appointments?

    German, English or Russian, and each appointment is with the same physician. Italian is possible for the information call; the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Must the pharmacy be in the canton of Glarus?

    No. If a prescription is issued, where medically indicated, the choice of pharmacy is yours (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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