Where to Buy CBD In Switzerland (2020)

Summary: Buying CBD in Switzerland

• Switzerland regulates CBD differently than the EU
• Any CBD product with less than 1% THC is entirely legal in Switzerland
• You can buy CBD both in-store and online if you live in Switzerland
• Nordic Oil & Endoca offer free shipping to Switzerland
• You can use a mail forwarding service to buy CBD from brands that don’t ship to your country

Best CBD Oils in Switzerland

Number	Product	Total CBD	Potency	Cost per mg CBD	Link
1	Nordic Oil Full-Spectrum CBD Oil With Curcumin & Piperine	1500 mg	150 mg/mL	€0.10	Get a Deal
2	Endoca CBD Oils	300 – 1500 mg	30 – 150 mg/mL	€0.08 – €0.09	Get a Deal
3	Formula Swiss CBD Oil	300 – 2500 mg	30 – 250 mg/mL	€0.06 – €0.08	Get a Deal
4	Hempura Broad-Spectrum Refined Extract	250 – 1000 mg	25 – 100 mg/mL	£0.06 – £0.08	Get a Deal
5	Hemp Bombs CBD Oil	300 – 4000 mg	10 – 133.3 mg/mL	$0.07 – $0.17	Get a Deal
6	Reakiro CBD Oil	300 – 1500 mg	30 – 150 mg/mL	€0.07 – €0.08	Get a Deal
7	Amma Life CBD Oil	400 – 2500 mg	40 – 250 mg/mL	£0.05 – £0.07	Get a Deal

A Brief History of Cannabis Laws in Switzerland

The most relevant evidence for cannabis cultivation in Switzerland dates back to as early as the 13th century. Besides hemp textile, scientists found pieces of hemp stalks, and cannabis pollen, seeds, and fiber.

Although most of the evidence was located in the canton of Jura in Northwestern Switzerland, there are other places as well where archeologists have found cannabis remains, which indicates widespread use of hemp in the Middle Ages.

The Swiss, who used hemp mostly for textile and clothing, and rope, were the most successful hemp traders in the medieval period, along with Italy, France, and Germany.

Switzerland actively cultivated cannabis until the Industrial Revolution. Between the 18th and the 19th century, the country reduced the number of hemp fields because it needed more land for farming livestock.

In 1924, Switzerland introduced the Narcotic Act to fulfill its promise to ban cannabis cultivation after it signed the International Opium Convention (1912). 

Despite the prohibition, farmers continued to grow cannabis. Throughout the 20th century, Switzerland signed several more international agreements that were supposed to eliminate cannabis, but this was never fully enforced.

The resistance to restrictive laws lead to a highly developed cannabis industry, and finally, in 1995, the Swiss Federal Offices of Public Health, Police, and Agriculture legalized cannabis cultivation under one condition — it could not be used for drug purposes.

To this day, Switzerland has a thriving and adequately regulated cannabis market. Marijuana is decriminalized, and hemp and its derivatives — including CBD — are entirely legal.

What is the Difference Between Hemp & Marijuana?

Hemp and marijuana both belong to the Cannabis sativa species, but they differ in appearance, chemical properties, and purpose of use.

Hemp’s equation with marijuana has caused a lot of controversy throughout history, often leading to its ban.

Why is it important to differentiate the two cannabis plants?

One of the main compounds of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a cannabinoid known for its psychoactive properties. THC is the main constituent of marijuana — its concentration can go as high as 30%. However, hemp contains insignificant amounts of THC and has no psychoactive effects on its users.

Unlike marijuana, which is used mostly for recreational and sometimes medicinal purposes, hemp is used for fiber, food, and CBD extraction.

Switzerland has a long cannabis history and has made a difference between the two plants since long ago. However, some Swiss laws have treated hemp as marijuana due to international pressure.

Let’s see what today’s laws say about hemp and marijuana in Switzerland.

1. Marijuana Laws in Switzerland

Swiss law considers marijuana a narcotic, and any cannabis plant with a THC level higher than 1% is illegal. However, the personal use of marijuana is decriminalized. If you get caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana, you won’t receive a fine, but anything above that can lead to a fine of CHF100 ($102) or a more severe penalty based on the amount possessed.

2. Hemp Laws in Switzerland

Under Swiss law, hemp is any plant with less than 1% THC by dry weight. Switzerland has a thriving hemp industry, and the plant is used to its full potential for various purposes, including CBD extraction.

Is CBD Legal in Switzerland?

CBD is legal in almost every European country, but Switzerland has far more progressive and straightforward cannabis laws.

Switzerland is the only European country where the legal THC threshold is 1%. What’s the reason behind this? 

Swiss cannabis experts and policymakers decided to raise the THC limit because this way, farmers won’t have to harvest their plants earlier, and the high-CBD hemp will grow to its fullest cannabinoid capacity.

If you live in Switzerland, or you have the chance to visit this mesmerizing country, you can indulge in thousands of CBD products, including CBD foods — a forbidden fruit for many Europeans, thanks to the Novel Food regulation established by the European Union. 

Since we know CBD laws in Switzerland are friendly, let’s go over how you can shop for your favorite CBD products without spending your money and time on bogus products.

How to Buy CBD Products in Switzerland

Finding high-quality CBD in Switzerland isn’t difficult. The range of products is impressive — you can shop for CBD cosmetics, tinctures, capsules, foods, beverages, topicals, and much more.

However, even in a country where everything is almost perfect, it’s good to be cautious. If you don’t do your research on brands and their products, you’re risking both your money and wellbeing. There are plenty of reputable brands, but there are also retailers who’ve joined the business only for money, often with a lack of expertise and ethics. 

Before we share our tips on how to protect yourself from scammers and find first-class CBD, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying CBD online in Switzerland.

Tips for Buying CBD Online in Switzerland

You might be used to buying your CBD from a local store, which is reasonable, especially if you live in a country like Switzerland, where CBD is a product of a high reputation.

However, have you ever thought that online shopping might be a safer and more practical option?

If you still can’t find a reason why you would switch from traditional to online shopping, here are a few reasons that will let you see things from another perspective.

Online stores sell their products at reduced prices because they don’t have overhead expenses, meaning you’ll be able to save the money that you would spend for the same product in a brick-and-mortar store.

When you buy online, you can expect much more than just a wide range of CBD products. Online retailers must be transparent if they want to succeed in the business. Reputable brands invest in user-friendly websites where you can learn about the properties of a specific CBD product. You can also compare prices and browse through customers’ feedback, and contact the retailer through live chat or an email address for additional information.

When you buy CBD online, you can expect that most brands will ship you the product for free or over a specific amount.

It’s good to know that some brands don’t ship worldwide, or they won’t be able to send the product to your country, and in this case, you might need to register for a mail forwarding service. Many mail forwarding companies can help you shop from your preferred brand by providing you with a local address in the region where you want to buy CBD.

However, Switzerland is one of the most friendly countries when it comes to CBD, and authorities won’t bother you as long as the product you’re importing is within legal limits. 

Tips on Buying High-Quality CBD Products in Switzerland

CBD businesses in Switzerland aren’t exposed to many restrictions. However, they need to respect high-quality standards if they want to place their products on the market. Most of them do so because the driving force of their business is their customers’ trust.

It’s fantastic that you can browse among so many reputable brands that produce and sell first-class CBD, but this can also be tricky, especially when you’re new to CBD and don’t know much about the topic.

Such retailers can’t offer you consistency and can’t guarantee the safety of their CBD products. If you don’t do your research and bump into a scammer, you can spend a decent sum of money on a package of oil that barely contains CBD, or is contaminated with toxins.

To avoid this, check out our easy tips that’ll help you shop without any hassle.

1. Research More CBD Brands and Choose Wisely

You’ll be one step closer to finding the perfect CBD product if you do a little homework on various CBD brands. Bookmark or write down the ones you like the most, and then compare prices, check if they’re completely transparent about the CBD they sell, and their product range.

Marketing plays a significant role in how you’ll perceive certain CBD products — try not to fall for gimmicky ads. In general, steer clear of brands that claim their product can cure or treat illnesses. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

There are plenty of reputable brands that work ethically and are well-known in the CBD market — put these on your priority list.

2. Look For a Certificate of Analysis

When you’re shopping for CBD, it’s crucial to know its origin. The hemp plant is a bioaccumulator, which means it absorbs elements from its growing environment faster than it can break them down.

If the hemp is grown in contaminated soil or farmed with pesticides, these harmful compounds can end up in the final CBD extraction.

To avoid spending money on something that could be harmful to your health, always ask your retailer to provide you with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The COA guarantees that the CBD is lab-tested for safety and purity. 

3. Shop for CBD Products With 1% THC or Less

Always look for products that have 1% THC or less. You’re lucky to live in a country with the highest THC limit for CBD products.

Final Thoughts on Buying CBD in Switzerland

Switzerland is doing a great job on the CBD market and has created perfect conditions both for its economy and its citizens.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an avid CBD user or just getting started learning about the topic — you can easily find thousands of first-class CBD both online and in-store. 

The number of trusted brands that operate in Switzerland is large, so if you ever get tired of one, you can switch to another and still indulge in amazing CBD products.

The rules are clear and straightforward — don’t buy any CBD that contains more than 1% THC.

We’re looking forward to seeing more positive examples like Switzerland.

Enjoy your CBD journey!