Cannatherapy

Cantons · SG

The canton of St. Gallen counted 544'040 residents at the end of 2025 (BFS, 31 December). St. Gallen is its capital (KV SG Art. 1) and, with 79'487 residents, its largest municipality; Rapperswil-Jona (28'836) and Wil (25'444) follow. The constitution has no article on an official language, but the canton is German-speaking: every municipality is in the German language region, and federal law does not list St. Gallen as multilingual (BFS; Art. 21 para. 2 SpG).

St. Gallen applies the same federal narcotics law as every other canton. Since 1 August 2022 that law has allowed any licensed physician to prescribe medical cannabis where medically indicated, and no special permit is required (Art. 8 BetmG). The canton handles enforcement. Physicians, for example, order the official narcotics prescription forms through the cantonal Medportal platform, at most two pads per order.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Kantonsapotheke, the office of the cantonal pharmacist, is part of the Generalsekretariat of the Gesundheitsdepartement. It enforces medicines legislation in human medicine within cantonal competence: market surveillance at retail level, permits, control of narcotics traffic and disposal, and inspections of pharmacies, drugstores and physician and dental dispensaries.

KantonsapothekeHandling narcotics: Kantonsapotheke (sg.ch)

Pilot trials

According to the BAG overview checked on 20 October 2026, the pilot trial CanLeg is authorised in Wil, Buchs, Rorschach, Sargans and Rapperswil-Jona. It is a non-medical scientific study under Art. 8a BetmG: consumption for medical reasons is not part of it, and participants must live in the canton of St. Gallen (Art. 14 BetmPV). We have found no official cantonal source confirming that the study has started. CanLeg is separate from medical treatment, and our practice is not involved in it.

Good to know

  • The Kantonsapotheke also acts for the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, by mandate.
  • Its page on handling narcotics (updated 13 February 2026) covers bookkeeping, cantonal permits, reporting misused prescriptions, disposal and travelling with narcotic medicines.
  • St. Gallen belongs to the region of the Regionale Fachstelle Ost- und Zentralschweiz at the Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich, which inspects medicine manufacturers, importers, exporters and wholesalers.

Pharmacies in the canton of St. Gallen

We have not found a pharmacy in the canton of St. Gallen 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 St. Gallen

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 St. Gallen

  • Which office supervises medicines and narcotics in St. Gallen?

    The Kantonsapotheke in the Generalsekretariat of the Gesundheitsdepartement. It also acts for Appenzell Innerrhoden by mandate.

  • Does the CanLeg pilot trial have anything to do with medical treatment?

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

  • Must the pharmacy be in the canton of St. Gallen?

    No. Patients choose the pharmacy freely, in the canton or anywhere else in Switzerland (Art. 26 HMG).

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

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