Zurich is extending its successful cannabis pilot project „Züri Can“ for another two years through 2028. The city has approved an additional 800,000 Swiss francs for this – and for good reason: the figures the project has generated after nearly two years of operation are remarkable.
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Over 90 percent of study participants now purchase their cannabis exclusively through legal channels. The black market has been deprived of approximately 7.5 million francs.
What Züri Can Has Accomplished So Far
Since the project’s launch, a total of 88,000 legal cannabis transactions have been recorded – equivalent to approximately 750 kilograms of cannabis that has reached consumers through registered pharmacies and specialized retailers instead of illegal dealers. Currently, 2,300 people participate in the study, with expansion planned to up to 3,000 participants once federal authorities grant the necessary approvals. In the broader Swiss program, a total of 4,500 people are included, including 1,500 in a control group that continues to purchase on the black market.
The product range is broader than many would expect: in addition to classic cannabis flowers, hashish and edibles – including candy and chocolate – are also available. THC content ranges from 5 to 25 percent. Particularly noteworthy: 37 kilograms of low-THC products have already been sold through regulated channels – evidence of demand that would never have been visible in the black market. These figures confirm what an earlier analysis of Swiss cannabis studies already suggested: regulation creates transparency in consumption.
Why the Extension Is Strategically Sound
The two additional years are not an end in themselves. The Swiss federal legislature is expected to decide on nationwide cannabis regulation in 2027. The extension of Züri Can through 2028 creates a seamless bridge: for study participants, this means legal certainty and a functioning legal supply network – without the abrupt interruptions that often characterize pilot projects in other countries.
At the same time, the expanded phase is intended to reach new target groups that have been underrepresented in the study so far: women and occasional consumers. Their inclusion is crucial for scientific evaluation because the current participant base overrepresents certain consumption patterns. Only with a more diverse sample can reliable statements be made about the broader societal effects of cannabis regulation.
What Germany Can Learn from Zurich
Germany is following the Swiss experiment with interest – and some nervousness. Germany’s cannabis social clubs are structurally in their infancy, as the recently published EKOCAN interim report documents: at most 3.5 percent of consumers obtained their supply through a cultivation association. The legal market share remains modest despite two years of cannabis legislation.
The Zurich model shows a different approach: state-controlled distribution points, scientific oversight, transparent product information. Over 90 percent of study participants who previously purchased on the black market have permanently changed their behavior. This is not a given. Those who have followed the initial data from the Züri Can project recognize in the current extension decision the consistent continuation of a success story.
For the German debate on pilot projects and their design, Zurich thus provides an important argument: a regulated market can work – if the framework conditions are right and there is political will to conduct the experiment seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Züri Can?
Züri Can is a scientific pilot project by the city of Zurich for the regulated sale of cannabis. Since its launch, registered participants can legally purchase cannabis from pharmacies and authorized specialty retailers instead of on the black market.
Why is Züri Can Being Extended Through 2028?
The two-year extension and 800,000 Swiss francs were approved by the city of Zurich to bridge a supply gap until the Swiss federal legislature decides on nationwide cannabis regulation in 2027. Additionally, more women and occasional consumers are to be included in the study.
How Many Participants Does Züri Can Have?
Currently, 2,300 people participate, with expansion planned to 3,000 participants. In the broader Swiss program, a total of 4,500 people are included, of which 1,500 are in a control group that continues to purchase on the black market.
What Do the Results So Far Show?
Over 90 percent of participants now purchase their cannabis exclusively legally. A total of 88,000 transactions have been recorded, corresponding to approximately 750 kilograms of cannabis. An estimated 7.5 million Swiss francs have been diverted from the black market.
What Cannabis Products Are Available at Züri Can?
The assortment includes cannabis flowers, hashish, and edibles such as candy and chocolate. THC content ranges from 5 to 25 percent; low-THC products are also seeing growing demand.
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