Cannatherapy

Cantons · TG

Frauenfeld is the capital of Thurgau (KV TG § 33) and its largest municipality, with 27'201 residents on 31 December 2025; Kreuzlingen (23'550) and Arbon (16'407) come next. The canton as a whole counted 302'806 residents (BFS, permanent resident population). Thurgau is German-speaking: its constitution has no language article, all municipalities are in the German language region, and federal law does not list it as multilingual (BFS; Art. 21 para. 2 SpG).

Since 1 August 2022 the federal Narcotics Act has treated cannabis for medical purposes as a controlled narcotic rather than a prohibited one, in Thurgau as in every other canton (Art. 8 BetmG). A physician may prescribe it where medically indicated, without an exceptional authorisation from the BAG. Enforcement is shared with Schaffhausen: one joint medicines control, based in Frauenfeld and led by a joint cantonal pharmacist, serves both cantons.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Pharmazeutischer Dienst belongs to the Medizinisch-pharmazeutischer Dienst of the Amt für Gesundheit, in the Departement für Finanzen und Soziales (DFS), and is the office of the cantonal pharmacist of Thurgau and Schaffhausen. It enforces federal and cantonal medicines law, grants permits for pharmacies, physician dispensaries, hospital pharmacies and drugstores, and carries out inspections.

Pharmazeutischer DienstNarcotics control: Pharmazeutischer Dienst (tg.ch)

Good to know

  • The joint medicines control of Thurgau and Schaffhausen has existed since 1 January 2018, and its narcotics forms are issued for both cantons.
  • Its page on narcotics control covers inspections, the issue of official numbered prescription pads, official disposal and bookkeeping duties.
  • The Grosser Rat, the cantonal parliament, meets in Frauenfeld in summer and in Weinfelden in winter (KV TG § 33).

Pharmacies in the canton of Thurgau

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

  • Does the Thurgau office also cover Schaffhausen?

    Yes. Since 2018 Thurgau and Schaffhausen have run a joint medicines control, based in Frauenfeld and led by a joint cantonal pharmacist.

  • Is there a pilot trial in Thurgau?

    No. The BAG overview of authorised pilot trials, checked on 20 October 2026, lists none for the canton. Such trials are non-medical studies under Art. 8a BetmG, their participants must live in the canton where the trial takes place (Art. 14 BetmPV), and they are separate from medical treatment.

  • Do I have to use a pharmacy in Thurgau?

    No. You choose the pharmacy freely, in Thurgau or elsewhere in Switzerland (free choice of pharmacy, 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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