Bern is one of Switzerland’s most recognisable cities, known for its medieval Old Town, the Zytglogge clock tower, the River Aare and its relaxed urban atmosphere. However, visitors who want to understand cannabis access in Bern should look beyond the city’s appearance. Switzerland has specific national rules for cannabis containing THC, and those rules apply in Bern just as they do in other Swiss cities.
The legal position can seem confusing. Adults may possess up to 10 grams of cannabis for personal use without committing a criminal offence under the relevant federal rule. However, consuming cannabis with at least 1% THC remains prohibited and can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty. Switzerland also permits limited scientific pilot trials that allow selected participants to purchase regulated cannabis. These trials do not establish ordinary recreational shops for tourists.
Bern has a specific research project called SCRIPT. It studies regulated cannabis sales through pharmacies and related advice services. The project operates under strict participation rules, so a short-term visitor should not assume they can join it or buy its products.
This guide explains cannabis possession rules in Bern, the CHF 100 consumption penalty, the SCRIPT pilot trial, tourist eligibility, CBD products, medical cannabis and important travel restrictions. It focuses on the rules that visitors need to understand before making decisions.
Is cannabis legal in Bern, Switzerland?
Cannabis containing at least 1% THC remains a controlled narcotic under Swiss federal law. Therefore, recreational cannabis is not generally legal in Bern. The city does not have a separate recreational cannabis law that allows visitors to buy and consume ordinary high-THC cannabis freely.
Switzerland has introduced a limited exception for scientific pilot trials. These projects allow approved participants to obtain cannabis through controlled distribution systems. However, the exception applies only within the authorised research framework. It does not remove the general prohibition outside those projects.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health explains the national legal position in its official overview of cannabis, addiction and health. The rules apply throughout Switzerland, including Bern, Biel, Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne.
Visitors should separate four different questions:
- Possession: Possessing up to 10 grams for personal use is not treated as a criminal offence under the specific federal rule.
- Consumption: Adult consumption of cannabis containing at least 1% THC can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty.
- Purchase: Ordinary recreational sales remain prohibited outside authorised pilot trials.
- Research access: Selected participants may purchase regulated products through an approved study if they meet its conditions.
These distinctions matter. A rule that prevents criminal prosecution for a small amount does not create a legal right to purchase, consume or carry cannabis anywhere.
What are the cannabis possession rules in Bern?
Swiss federal law provides a specific rule for adults who possess up to 10 grams of cannabis for personal use. Under this rule, possession of that amount is not considered a criminal offence. This is often described as the Swiss 10-gram rule.
However, the rule has a narrow meaning. It concerns possession for personal use. It does not authorise recreational sales, supply, trafficking, cultivation or public consumption. It also does not mean that police must ignore every situation involving cannabis.
Does the 10-gram rule mean cannabis is legal?
No. Switzerland still prohibits cannabis containing at least 1% THC outside the legal exceptions. The 10-gram rule does not create a legal recreational market.
For example, an adult carrying a small amount for personal use may fall within the non-criminal possession rule. That same person may still face a fixed penalty if they consume the cannabis. A person who sells or supplies cannabis also faces a different legal assessment.
Authorities consider the circumstances of a case. The amount, purpose, conduct and evidence can all matter. Do not treat 10 grams as a general allowance for every cannabis-related activity.
What happens if someone carries more than 10 grams?
The specific protection for possession of up to 10 grams no longer applies in the same way when a person carries a larger amount. That does not mean every amount above 10 grams automatically produces the same criminal outcome. Authorities must assess the circumstances under the applicable law.
Possession connected with supply, distribution or trafficking can lead to more serious consequences. The legal assessment may consider the quantity, packaging, communications, money, conduct and other evidence. A visitor should not assume that dividing a larger amount into smaller packages or describing it as personal use will settle the matter.
For practical purposes, tourists should avoid carrying cannabis obtained outside a lawful framework. The possession rule is not a recommendation to travel with cannabis.
Can you smoke cannabis in public in Bern?
Public consumption remains a major legal risk. The Swiss rule that protects possession of up to 10 grams does not protect consumption. Adults who consume cannabis containing at least 1% THC can receive a fixed penalty of CHF 100.
This distinction applies in Bern. A person may carry a small amount without committing a criminal possession offence, yet still face a penalty for consuming it. The amount carried does not cancel the consumption rule.
Does the CHF 100 fine apply to tourists?
Yes. The fixed penalty is not limited to Swiss citizens. Visitors who consume prohibited cannabis in Switzerland can also face enforcement. A tourist should not assume that a foreign passport, hotel booking or short stay creates an exemption.
The CHF 100 figure refers to the standard fixed penalty for adult cannabis consumption under the relevant rule. It should not be treated as a universal maximum for every cannabis-related offence. Supply, trafficking, unlawful cultivation and other circumstances can involve separate and more serious proceedings.
Can you smoke cannabis in parks or beside the River Aare?
Do not interpret Bern’s parks, riverbanks or outdoor spaces as places where cannabis consumption is permitted. The national prohibition still applies. A quiet location does not turn prohibited consumption into lawful activity.
Bern also has public-space rules that may apply to conduct, noise, littering and the use of municipal areas. Those rules are separate from the federal cannabis framework. Visitors should follow posted signs and instructions from local authorities.
Can you smoke cannabis outside a hotel or restaurant?
No general tourist exemption applies to hotel entrances, restaurant terraces, streets or other public areas. A private business may also set its own rules for customers and visitors.
Do not assume that moving away from a building or choosing a less crowded corner makes cannabis consumption lawful. The federal rule concerns consumption, not simply whether other people can see you.
Are there cannabis shops in Bern?
Bern has businesses that sell hemp and CBD products, but a shop selling CBD is not automatically a recreational THC dispensary. The distinction is important because Swiss law treats products with less than 1% THC differently from cannabis products containing at least 1% THC.
Ordinary recreational cannabis sales remain prohibited outside authorised pilot trials. A shop window, product menu or cannabis-related sign does not prove that a business can legally sell high-THC cannabis to the general public.
Can tourists buy recreational cannabis from a Bern shop?
Tourists should not expect to walk into an ordinary shop and legally purchase high-THC recreational cannabis. The authorised pilot-trial system does not operate as a public retail market.
Some approved research projects use pharmacies or other controlled distribution channels. Those locations serve eligible study participants under the project’s rules. They do not function as ordinary dispensaries for anyone who enters.
Never assume that a business selling CBD flowers, hemp products or accessories can also sell recreational THC cannabis. Check the product category and the legal basis for its sale.
How can visitors recognise the difference between CBD and THC products?
CBD and THC are different cannabinoids. THC produces the intoxicating effect associated with recreational cannabis. CBD does not produce the same intoxicating effect and is not controlled under the Swiss Narcotics Act in the same way.
However, the product label alone does not establish legal compliance. The THC concentration, ingredients, product category, intended use and other applicable product rules matter. A product marketed as CBD may still require careful checking if its composition is unclear.
Bern’s SCRIPT cannabis pilot trial explained
Bern is directly involved in Switzerland’s scientific cannabis research programme. The SCRIPT study, short for Safer Cannabis Research in Pharmacies randomized controlled Trial, examines a regulated, non-profit approach to cannabis sales through pharmacies combined with advice services.
The study involves the cities of Bern, Biel and Lucerne. Researchers examine how controlled access and advice affect consumption behaviour, health and other outcomes. The project operates under federal authorisation and research requirements.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health lists SCRIPT among the authorised cannabis pilot trials. Its official pilot-trial information explains why Switzerland permits these limited studies and how they fit within the national legal framework.
When did the Bern cannabis study begin?
The Bern study began in 2024. The City of Bern reports that selected participants have been able to obtain cannabis products through designated pharmacies since April 2024. The project originally had an expected end date in October 2026, but authorities approved an extension until October 2028.
The city has reported 777 participants in Bern. These participants form part of a controlled research project. Their access does not establish a general right for residents or tourists to purchase cannabis from the participating pharmacies.
What is the purpose of the SCRIPT project?
SCRIPT examines whether regulated, non-profit distribution through pharmacies, combined with professional advice, can influence cannabis consumption and health outcomes. Researchers also study wider effects, including the potential impact on the illicit market.
The project does not exist to provide a tourist dispensary service. Its purpose is scientific. Researchers collect information under an approved study design and evaluate the results to inform future discussions about cannabis regulation.
Can tourists join the Bern cannabis pilot trial?
Ordinary tourists should not expect to qualify. Swiss federal pilot-trial rules require participants to be adults with decision-making capacity, existing cannabis consumers and residents of the canton where the relevant study takes place. Participants must also agree to the study conditions and provide written consent.
The Bern study’s recruitment process required participants to live in the canton of Bern. The City of Bern states that registration for the relevant recruitment period was open to canton residents until December 2023.
A visitor staying in Bern for a weekend or holiday does not become a canton resident simply by booking accommodation. A tourist should therefore not plan a trip around obtaining legal recreational cannabis through SCRIPT.
Can participants share or use study cannabis anywhere?
No. Pilot-trial products are intended for the participant’s own use. Participants cannot pass them to other people. The federal pilot-trial rules also prohibit consumption in publicly accessible places.
These conditions show why the study is not equivalent to a public dispensary system. Participants must follow the research protocol, product restrictions and consumption conditions. Access can be withdrawn or restricted if a participant does not comply with the study rules.
The Federal Office of Public Health provides further detail in its official FAQs on cannabis pilot trials, including participant eligibility, product distribution and study obligations.
What does the Bern pilot trial mean for cannabis shops?
The SCRIPT project demonstrates that Switzerland is testing controlled ways to distribute cannabis for research. It does not mean that Bern has opened a general recreational cannabis retail market.
Participating pharmacies operate within the approved research structure. They cannot treat the study authorisation as permission to sell cannabis to every customer. The same principle applies to other Swiss pilot projects that use different distribution models.
For visitors, the practical position remains simple:
- Do not assume that a cannabis-related shop sells legal recreational THC products.
- Do not ask a pilot-trial pharmacy to sell study products outside the approved participant system.
- Do not rely on online claims that tourists can buy cannabis through a research project.
- Check official study information if you are a genuine resident interested in research participation.
Is CBD legal in Bern?
Swiss law treats cannabis products with less than 1% THC differently from products containing at least 1% THC. Low-THC hemp products, including some CBD products, can be sold legally when they also meet the rules that apply to their particular product category.
This is why CBD products are available in parts of Switzerland. However, the 1% threshold does not mean that every product containing less than 1% THC can be sold for every purpose. Food, cosmetics, medicines, smoking products and other categories may have separate requirements.
Can tourists buy CBD products in Bern?
Visitors may find CBD and low-THC hemp products in Swiss shops. However, they should check the product information and applicable restrictions before buying. A legal product in Switzerland may still create problems when a traveller takes it across an international border.
Do not confuse a CBD product with a recreational cannabis product. CBD products should not be assumed to produce the same effects as high-THC cannabis. Equally, do not assume that every product advertised as CBD contains no controlled THC.
Can you take CBD from Switzerland to another country?
Not automatically. Border rules depend on the destination country, the product’s composition and the applicable import restrictions. A product that can be sold in Switzerland may be restricted elsewhere.
Before travelling, check the destination country’s official customs and controlled-substance rules. Keep product packaging and composition information available, but remember that documents do not override an import prohibition.
Medical cannabis in Bern
Medical cannabis follows a different legal framework from recreational cannabis. Switzerland lifted the general prohibition on prescribing cannabis-based medicines for medical purposes in 2022. Doctors can prescribe qualifying cannabis medicines under the applicable therapeutic and professional rules.
This change does not create a recreational market. A medical prescription relates to treatment, not general personal use. Patients must follow the prescription, dispensing requirements and any travel rules that apply to their medicine.
Can tourists use a foreign medical cannabis prescription in Bern?
A foreign prescription does not automatically guarantee that a visitor can bring cannabis medicine into Switzerland or use it without additional checks. The medicine’s ingredients, legal classification, quantity, documentation and travel route can affect the requirements.
Before travelling, contact the relevant Swiss authority or a qualified medical professional. Ask whether the specific medicine can enter Switzerland, what documentation is required and whether any permit or certificate applies.
Do not assume that a prescription for cannabis in one country creates permission to buy recreational cannabis in Bern. Medical access and recreational pilot-trial access are separate systems.
What should medical cannabis patients carry when travelling?
Patients should prepare documentation before departure. Depending on the medicine and route, useful documents may include:
- A valid prescription or medical certificate.
- The medicine in its original labelled packaging.
- A document identifying the active ingredients and prescribed dosage.
- Evidence of the quantity required for the trip.
- Any permit or certificate required by Swiss authorities or the transit country.
These documents are not a guarantee of entry. Confirm the exact rules for the medicine before travelling. For broader preparation advice, read our guide to travel health and wellbeing.
Can you take cannabis through Bern Airport or another Swiss airport?
Do not travel with recreational cannabis on the assumption that the 10-gram possession rule permits it. The rule does not authorise international import or export. Border controls and customs rules create separate legal issues.
Taking cannabis across an international border can involve the laws of Switzerland, the departure country, the destination country and any transit country. A product that is tolerated or sold under a specific domestic rule may still be prohibited during international travel.
Medical cannabis patients should confirm the requirements for their exact medicine and route before departure. Do not rely on a general online statement about Swiss possession limits. Check the relevant customs and controlled-medicine requirements for every country on the itinerary.
For airport preparation, documentation and disruption advice, see our guide to airport procedures, delays and disruptions.
What happens if a tourist is caught with cannabis in Bern?
The outcome depends on what happened. Possession, consumption, supply, trafficking and importation are different legal issues. A visitor should not assume that every cannabis incident leads to the same penalty.
| Situation | General Swiss legal position | What visitors should understand |
|---|---|---|
| Possession of up to 10g for personal use | Not considered a criminal offence under the specific possession rule. | This does not make consumption or purchase legal. |
| Adult consumption of cannabis with at least 1% THC | Can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty. | The rule can apply to tourists as well as residents. |
| Possession above 10g | The specific non-criminal possession rule no longer provides the same protection. | Authorities assess the circumstances and applicable law. |
| Sale or supply | Can lead to more serious legal consequences. | Do not treat personal-use rules as permission to distribute cannabis. |
| Participation in SCRIPT | Permitted only under the authorised research conditions. | Tourists should not assume they qualify. |
| Low-THC CBD products | May be lawful when they meet the relevant product rules. | Check THC content, product category and border rules. |
This table provides a general explanation, not a decision about a particular case. Swiss authorities assess offences under the applicable legislation and the facts of the incident.
Important mistakes tourists should avoid
Visitors can misunderstand Swiss cannabis rules when they rely on short social media posts or outdated travel articles. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Assuming 10 grams means legal recreational cannabis: The possession rule does not authorise general purchase or consumption.
- Assuming the CHF 100 fine is the penalty for every offence: Supply, trafficking and other offences can involve different proceedings.
- Assuming Bern has open recreational dispensaries: SCRIPT is a controlled research project, not an unrestricted retail market.
- Assuming tourists can join SCRIPT: The study used canton-residency and existing-consumer eligibility requirements.
- Assuming CBD products are all identical: THC content and product category matter.
- Carrying cannabis across borders: Domestic possession rules do not authorise international import or export.
- Sharing pilot-trial products: Participants must use study products themselves and follow the research conditions.
For more general preparation, review our before you travel guide. You can also explore our advice on travel safety, scams and emergencies before visiting Switzerland.
Travelling responsibly in Bern
Bern offers visitors a compact historic centre, public transport, riverside walks and cultural attractions. Travellers can enjoy the city without taking unnecessary legal risks. The simplest approach is to respect local rules, avoid prohibited cannabis consumption and check product restrictions before buying or carrying anything.
Visitors should also remember that cannabis laws are only one part of responsible travel. Follow public-space rules, respect residents, use designated facilities appropriately and seek official information when a legal question affects your plans.
For wider guidance, explore our resource on responsible travel, local laws, etiquette and protected places. You can also visit the Best Guide House homepage for more destination guides and travel information.
Frequently asked questions about cannabis in Bern
Is cannabis legal in Bern?
Recreational cannabis containing at least 1% THC remains prohibited outside authorised pilot trials. Limited possession and CBD rules do not create a general recreational market.
Can you possess 10 grams of cannabis in Bern?
Possession of up to 10 grams for personal use is not considered a criminal offence under the relevant Swiss federal rule. However, consumption remains prohibited and can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty.
Is the 10-gram rule available to tourists?
The federal possession rule is not limited to Swiss citizens. However, it does not authorise recreational consumption, purchase, supply or international transport.
Can tourists buy cannabis in Bern?
Tourists cannot treat Bern’s pilot-trial pharmacies as ordinary recreational dispensaries. The SCRIPT study operates under controlled research conditions and participant eligibility rules.
Does Bern have a cannabis pilot trial?
Yes. Bern participates in the SCRIPT research project with Biel and Lucerne. The study examines regulated, non-profit cannabis distribution through pharmacies and related advice services.
Can tourists join the SCRIPT study?
Ordinary tourists should not expect to qualify. The study required adult participants who already used cannabis and lived in the canton of Bern during recruitment.
Is cannabis smoking allowed in public in Bern?
No. Adult consumption of cannabis containing at least 1% THC remains prohibited and can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty. Pilot-trial participants also face specific restrictions on public consumption.
Can you buy CBD in Bern?
Some low-THC CBD and hemp products can be sold legally when they meet Swiss product requirements. Check the product’s THC content and category before buying.
Is CBD the same as recreational cannabis?
No. CBD is not intoxicating in the same way as THC. Swiss law treats products with less than 1% THC differently, although other product regulations still apply.
Can you bring medical cannabis to Bern?
Do not assume that a foreign prescription automatically permits entry. Check the medicine’s classification, quantity, documentation and any permit requirements with the relevant authorities before travelling.
Can you take cannabis from Bern to another country?
Do not carry recreational cannabis across international borders. Swiss domestic possession rules do not authorise import or export, and destination and transit-country laws may also apply.
Is the CHF 100 cannabis fine the maximum penalty?
No. CHF 100 is the fixed penalty associated with adult consumption under the relevant rule. Supply, trafficking and other offences can lead to separate and more serious consequences.
Final guidance: understand the difference between possession and access
Bern follows Switzerland’s national cannabis framework. Adults may possess up to 10 grams for personal use without committing a criminal offence under the specific rule, but consumption of cannabis containing at least 1% THC remains prohibited and can attract a CHF 100 fixed penalty.
The city’s SCRIPT project provides a controlled research route for selected participants. It does not create unrestricted cannabis shops or a legal purchasing option for ordinary tourists. CBD products follow separate rules, while medical cannabis requires its own prescription and travel checks.
Visitors should check current official information before making decisions. If a product, prescription or legal situation is unclear, seek advice from the relevant Swiss authority rather than relying on assumptions or informal sales claims.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026.
Disclaimer: This article provides general travel and legal information. It is not legal, medical or customs advice. Cannabis laws and enforcement practices can change. Confirm the current requirements with official Swiss authorities before travelling or acting on this information.