HHC ban Switzerland
The criminalization of HHC in Austria and Switzerland continues. A few days ago, Austria made a clear decision and banned HHC (hexahydrocannabinol). HHC is a synthetic compound that has effects similar to THC and is distributed in various products such as smoking mixes and liquids or vapes .
Switzerland has now followed suit and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) decided on March 31, 2023 to include a further 11 individual substances in the list of narcotics. This means that these substances are now equated with narcotics and are therefore illegal. Production and trade are subject to the threat of punishment under the Narcotics Act.
The bans on HHC in Austria and the inclusion of 11 other substances on the narcotics register in Switzerland show that the fight against designer drugs is a serious concern and that the authorities are taking measures to protect the population from the dangers and risks of these synthetic substances . It is to be hoped that other countries will follow suit and take action to tackle designer drug abuse.
The Swiss government announced:
Fight against synthetic drugs:
List of narcotics expanded by 11 individual substances
Bern, 31.03.2023 - The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) announced today that it has included a further 11 individual synthetic substances in the list of narcotics in order to combat the misuse of these substances as narcotics. With the expansion of the corresponding regulation from March 31, 2023, these new psychoactive substances will be put on an equal footing with narcotics, which means that their manufacture and trade are illegal and fall under the Narcotics Act.
"Designer drugs" are a collection of synthetic substances with different effects, which laboratory changes keep removing from the law. These substances, also known as "research chemicals" or "legal highs", pose a high health risk because their effect in combination with other substances is unknown, they can be highly addictive and can be toxic if taken repeatedly. Because of the similar structure with controlled substances, it must be assumed that consumption is harmful.
By including 276 individual substances and 15 groups of substances (derivatives) with suspected narcotics-like effects in the list of narcotics, the spread of designer drugs on the black market is effectively combated and the consumption of potentially harmful substances is prevented.
The Narcotics List Ordinance is updated at the request of the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic, which, together with other national and international authorities, continuously monitors whether new synthetic substances or classes of substances are being misused. The inclusion in the list of raw materials and products with a suspected narcotic-like effect is also intended to prevent Switzerland from becoming a trading center for designer drugs.
