Cannatherapy

Cantons · UR

Uri had 38'581 residents at 31 December 2025 (BFS). The canton is German-speaking: its constitution contains no language article, and all of its municipalities lie in the German language region (BFS). The capital, Altdorf (Art. 63 KV UR), is the largest municipality with 10'618 residents; Schattdorf (5'555) and Erstfeld (3'985) follow.

Medical cannabis has been subject to the same federal rules in Uri as in every canton since 1 August 2022 (Art. 8 BetmG). For enforcement, Uri has turned to the canton of Schwyz: through an administrative agreement (Verwaltungsvereinbarung), it has mandated the cantonal pharmacist of Schwyz to enforce the law on therapeutic products.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

For Uri, medicines and narcotics control lies with the cantonal pharmacist of Schwyz, part of the Amt für Gesundheit und Soziales of the Schwyz Departement des Innern; this includes inspections of pharmacies, drugstores, physician and dental practices and other dispensing points. Uri's own health administration is the Gesundheits-, Sozial- und Umweltdirektion.

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 Uri.

Good to know

  • The mandate is documented in the Uri government's answer of 29 April 2014, which also states that Obwalden, Nidwalden and Glarus have the same agreement (ur.ch).
  • Inspections of medicine manufacturers and wholesalers are carried out by the Regionale Fachstelle Ost- und Zentralschweiz at the Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich, whose region includes Uri.

Pharmacies in the canton of Uri

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

  • Who supervises medicines and narcotics for the canton of Uri?

    The cantonal pharmacist of Schwyz, mandated by Uri through an administrative agreement. The office belongs to the Amt für Gesundheit und Soziales of the canton of Schwyz.

  • Which languages can people from Uri choose for their appointments?

    German, English or Russian, and you see the same physician at every appointment. The information call can also take place in Italian; the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Does my pharmacy have to be in Uri?

    No. If a prescription is issued, where medically indicated, it belongs to you and you decide freely where it is filled (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.

Book your free call10 minutes with our physician · freeGet the patient guideFree PDF: process, law, costs
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