In Switzerland, in 2022, 4.0% of the population aged 15 to 64 consumed cannabis in the past 30 days and 7.6% had done so in the past 12 months. These proportions were broadly unchanged since 2017.
Men were far more likely to have consumed cannabis in the past 30 days (5.5%) and in the past 12 months (9.8%) than women (2.5% and 5.4% respectively). The highest proportions of cannabis consumers were seen among persons up to age 24, and the proportions doing so declined with increasing age.
This indicator is part of the Monitoring System Addiction and NCD (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Possessing and consuming cannabis are prohibited in Switzerland if the product concerned has a THC content of more than 1%. Exceptions are made from this prohibition for the use of cannabis for medical purposes under a doctor’s prescription (since 2022) and for those persons participating in pilot cannabis consumption trials (under a time-limited programme running from 2021 to 2031).
The health risks of cannabis use vary according to frequency and duration of use, dosage, drug quality, consumption situation, the health status and mental disposition of the consumer. Cannabis is especially problematic if it is consumed frequently, in large amounts and over a long period of time. Excessive consumption in adolescence poses a risk to health and mental development (WHO, 2016).
The indicator shows cannabis consumption trends and provides important information about the extent of such consumption among various age cohorts and population groups.
The indicator is based on data from the Swiss Health Survey (SHS, n2022 ≈ 22 000), and is updated every five years.
It shows the proportions of 15-to-64-year-olds living in private households who have consumed cannabis (hashish or marijuana) in the past 30 days and in the past 12 months.
The results shown are likely to be an underestimation of actual consumption levels. Survey interviewees tend to understate their cannabis consumption for reasons of social propriety; and it must also be assumed that those persons whose cannabis consumption presents a high risk to their health or has already had health and/or social consequences will rarely take part in such surveys.
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Tel. +41 58 462 95 05
media@bag.admin.ch
Tel. +41 58 463 60 45
obsan@bfs.admin.ch
https://www.obsan.admin.ch/en/contact