Cannatherapy

Cantons · VD

French is the official language of Vaud (Cst. VD Art. 3), and Lausanne is its capital (Cst. VD Art. 4). With 145'596 residents, Lausanne is by far the largest municipality, ahead of Yverdon-les-Bains (30'590) and Montreux (27'182). The canton's permanent resident population was 863'650 on 31 December 2025 (BFS).

The legal framework in Vaud is the federal one. The Narcotics Act applies in the same way in every canton, and since 1 August 2022 a physician may prescribe medical cannabis where medically indicated without an exceptional authorisation from the BAG (Art. 8 BetmG). The canton supervises and supplies: physicians order their narcotics prescription booklets (carnets à souches) from the Direction générale de la santé.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The Pharmacienne cantonale, the cantonal pharmacist, works within the Office du médecin cantonal (OMC) of the Direction générale de la santé (DGS), in the Département de la santé et de l'action sociale (DSAS). As health authority for therapeutic products, the office supervises medicine-related professions and businesses dispensing medicines, narcotics and medical devices, and carries out inspections.

Pharmacienne cantonaleOrdering narcotics prescription booklets (vd.ch, in French)

Pilot trials

The BAG overview checked on 20 October 2026 lists one pilot trial in Vaud: Cann-L, authorised in the city of Lausanne. Like every pilot trial, it is a non-medical scientific study under Art. 8a BetmG, and participants must live in the canton of Vaud (Art. 14 BetmPV). Medical use is not part of it. The trial has no connection with medical treatment, and our practice is not involved.

Good to know

  • According to the cantonal service page, dentists are not authorised to prescribe narcotics.
  • The cantonal pharmacist's work is organised as the Pôle Produits thérapeutiques de la pharmacienne cantonale.

Pharmacies in the canton of Vaud

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

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 Vaud

  • Can I have my appointments in French?

    No. French-speaking patients have their appointments in English; German and Russian are also possible. The information call can also be held in Italian, and the language of the consultation is then agreed before the appointment.

  • Does the Cann-L pilot trial in Lausanne have anything to do with medical treatment?

    No. Cann-L is a scientific study on non-medical use under Art. 8a BetmG; medical use is not part of it, and our practice is not involved.

  • Which office supervises medicines and narcotics in Vaud?

    The Pharmacienne cantonale, within the Office du médecin cantonal of the Direction générale de la santé, Département de la santé et de l'action sociale (DSAS).

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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