Cannatherapy

Cantons · ZH

With 1'632'918 residents at 31 December 2025, Zurich is the most populous canton in Switzerland (BFS). Its official language is German (Art. 48 KV ZH). The capital, Zurich, is also the largest municipality with 440'935 residents, ahead of Winterthur (120'741) and Uster (37'031).

The federal narcotics rules for medical cannabis have applied in the same way in every canton since 1 August 2022 (Art. 8 BetmG). The cantons enforce them. In Zurich this falls to the Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich (KHZ), the cantonal medicines control, which is headed by the cantonal pharmacist and supervises the pharmacies and other dispensing points in the canton.

Supervision of medicines and narcotics

The KHZ is part of the Gesundheitsdirektion des Kantons Zürich, the cantonal health directorate. It inspects manufacturers, wholesalers and dispensing points, grants the cantonal permits for pharmacies, hospital and care-home pharmacies, physician and dental dispensaries and drugstores, and issues narcotics permits for hospitals and scientific institutes.

Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich (KHZ)Medicines and narcotics, Canton of Zurich

Pilot trials

According to the BAG overview checked on 20 October 2026, two pilot trials are authorised in the canton: ZüriCan in the city of Zurich, and Cannabis Research Zürich in Schlieren, Horgen, Zurich, Winterthur, Wetzikon and Dübendorf. Both are non-medical scientific studies under Art. 8a BetmG, and participants must live in the canton of Zurich (Art. 14 BetmPV). They are separate from medical treatment, and our practice is not involved in either of them.

Good to know

  • The KHZ also works as the Regionale Fachstelle Ost- und Zentralschweiz. Under contract, it inspects medicine manufacturers, importers, exporters and wholesalers for Zurich, twelve further cantons and the Principality of Liechtenstein (zh.ch).
  • The Swiss Accreditation Service has accredited the KHZ as an inspection body under ISO/IEC 17020 (SIS No. 061).

Pharmacies in the canton of Zurich

These pharmacies state on their own website that they dispense medical cannabis on prescription. A factual list, not a recommendation.

Video consultations from the canton of Zurich

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 Zurich

  • Which office supervises pharmacies and narcotics in the canton of Zurich?

    The Kantonale Heilmittelkontrolle Zürich (KHZ) of the Gesundheitsdirektion. Its page on medicines and narcotics, in German, collects the cantonal forms and the legal bases.

  • Do the Zurich pilot trials have anything to do with medical treatment?

    No. ZüriCan and Cannabis Research Zürich are scientific studies on non-medical use under Art. 8a BetmG, and consumption for medical reasons is not part of them. Our practice has no role in either trial.

  • Does the pharmacy have to be in the canton of Zurich?

    No. If the physician issues a prescription where medically indicated, it belongs to you and you choose 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.

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