The first legal cannabis store in Europe has officially opened in the municipality of Allschwil, Switzerland, reports news aktuell.
To mark the start of the Grashaus Projects pilot project in Basel for the controlled distribution of cannabis for recreational purposes, up to 3,950 study participants can now purchase various THC-containing cannabis products – from dried flowers to hashish, extracts and vape liquids to edibles – under the guidance of trained specialist staff at the store. It is the first store of its kind on the European continent, the report said.
All products are produced by the Swiss cultivation partner SwissExtract in accordance with the quality requirements of the BetmPV organic regulation. The prices for cannabis flowers, for example, are between CHF eight and twelve (USD nine to 13.7) per gram, depending on the THC content.
“Our aim is to offer high-quality products in a safe and regulated environment. We also see our store as a place of education. The opening marks a significant step towards a modern cannabis policy in Europe,” explains Finn Hänsel, CEO of the Sanity Group, which is behind the project together with the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF). Another sales outlet is currently being built in Liestal; it is also due to open in the coming months.
As part of the study, Grashaus Projects is also working with the Swiss track & trace company Cannavigia: The Cannavigia software ensures that all processes from product cultivation to sale can be tracked seamlessly, guaranteeing quality standards and compliance along the entire value chain. It also ensures that only authorized persons can purchase and consume the permitted amount of cannabis upon presentation of the participant’s ID card. The participants’ consumption data is protected at all times by a pseudonymous study ID.
The study, led by Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, Scientific Director of the ISGF, examines the regulated sale of cannabis for non-medical purposes. For this purpose, the study will record the consumption behaviour as well as the physical and mental health of the participants. Through close exchange and the integration of relevant focus groups such as the public prosecutor’s office, social and health department and municipality, social effects, especially on public safety and order, are analyzed.
Up to 3,950 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 65 residing in the canton of Basel-Country can take part in the study.