Cannatherapy

Cantons · NE

Officially the République et Canton de Neuchâtel, the canton has French as its official language (Cst. NE Art. 4). Its chef-lieu is the city of Neuchâtel (Cst. NE Art. 2), the largest municipality with 45'466 residents; La Chaux-de-Fonds (37'858) and Val-de-Ruz (17'543) follow. The permanent resident population was 180'365 on 31 December 2025 (BFS).

For medical cannabis, Neuchâtel follows the federal rules that have applied in the same way in every canton since 1 August 2022: a physician may prescribe it where medically indicated, without an exceptional authorisation from the BAG (Art. 8 BetmG). The canton implements the federal narcotics law with its own regulation, which makes the Service de la santé publique the executive body for the narcotics tasks assigned to the cantons (RSN 804.30).

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Pharmacienne cantonale, the cantonal pharmacist, belongs to the Service cantonal de la santé publique (SCSP) in the Département de la santé, de la jeunesse et des sports (DSJS). The office is responsible for therapeutic products for human use (Loi de santé Art. 11): it supervises pharmacists and druggists, pharmacies, drugstores and institutions handling medicines, including narcotics, and it is the competent authority for controlling access to narcotics.

Pharmacienne cantonale

Good to know

  • The cantonal regulation is the Règlement d'application de la loi fédérale sur les stupéfiants (RSN 804.30, status 27 May 2025).
  • Health falls under the DSJS; the department names in RSN 804.30 were adapted after the arrêté of 27 May 2025.

Pharmacies in the canton of Neuchâtel

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

  • In which language are the appointments held?

    In English for French-speaking patients. Appointments are also available in German and Russian. The information call can also take place in Italian; the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Does Neuchâtel have its own rules on narcotics?

    The canton has a regulation implementing the federal narcotics law (RSN 804.30). It assigns the cantonal narcotics tasks to the Service de la santé publique; the federal rules themselves are the same in every canton.

  • Can I choose a pharmacy outside the canton?

    Yes. You choose the pharmacy freely, in Neuchâtel or elsewhere in Switzerland (Art. 26 HMG).

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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