Study on Regulated Cannabis Sales in Pharmacies

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2026-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Though regulated cannabis sales are increasing, little is known about the individual health effects of cannabis regulation. Data from countries with a regulated market can be used to test the effect of regulation on the price of cannabis in the illicit market, and to explore its effect on social and health outcomes at the societal level, but strength of evidence for individual health and social outcomes is more limited because it must be aggregated on a state or country level. Data on individual and social outcomes should include baseline measurements before and outcome measurements after regulations changed. In this context, randomized-controlled trials are the least biased source of data on the effects of interventions.

The SCRIPT study aims to investigate the individual health and social impact on recreational cannabis users who are allowed to purchase authorized, regulated cannabis from Swiss pharmacies compared to users who buy cannabis on the illicit market. Participants are randomly allocated in one of the two groups and followed-up for 6 months. After 6 months, all participants are allowed to participate in the intervention and the cohort is followed up for another 18 months.

The intervention includes various offers: Participants can choose between cannabis sorts and delivery methods, and they are encouraged to shift from smoking cannabis to vaping cannabis-containing e-liquids, vaporizing cannabis blossoms or using oral cannabis. Vaping / vaporizing electronic devices are also recommended. At the same time, pharmacists offer opportunistic smoking cessation and problematic cannabis, alcohol use and further drug use counseling that conforms to motivational interviewing principles.

The SCRIPT study adheres to rigorous quality criteria for the production and storage of regulated cannabis products. Only vaping / vaporizing electronic devices which are validated to reduce exposure to toxicants compared to cannabis smoking are recommended.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Bern
• Collaborator: Universität Luzern

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years old (validated with valid identification document)

• Written informed consent

• Regular cannabis user: Self-reported cannabis use at least once a month over the last 6 months and verified cannabis exposure based on urine analysis at baseline

• Resident status in the canton of Bern (for cannabis purchase in the cities of Bern or Biel) or in the city of Lucerne (for cannabis purchase in the city of Lucerne) (validated with registration confirmation from the municipality or confirmation of the residential address)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women (pregnancy test based on urine sample)

• Breastfeeding women (self-reported)

• People with a prescription for medical cannabis (self-reported)

• People currently in psychiatric inpatient treatment (self-reported)

• People with current, severe psychosis (self-reported and confirmed by study nurse/study physician)

• People with current, severe suicidal thoughts (self-reported and confirmed by study nurse/study physician)

• Inability to follow the procedures of the study due to severe cognitive impairment or language problems

• People who cannot attend the baseline study visit in-person

• People planning to move out of the canton of residence within 6 months of entering the trial.

• People who are participating or have participated (inclusion date up to one year ago) in another cannabis pilot trial which allows to buy regulated cannabis (validated by matching untraceable codes between studies witch the same catchment area).