In the 1990s and early 2000s, many Swiss hemp shops were selling marijuana with high levels of THC. But the authorities gradually put an end to this trade, which, if tolerated, was nonetheless illegal.
Thomas Kern / swissinfo.ch
Beer, chocolate, clothes, playing cards, scales, pipes. Cannabis shops in Switzerland sell all kinds of marijuana-related items. Everything, that is, except the drug itself.
This content was published on
As a photo editor I am responsible for the editorial use of photography at SWI swissinfo.ch and our collaborations with photographers. When the opportunity arises, I take a camera and accompany one of our journalists.
I trained as a photographer in Zürich and began working as a photojournalist in 1989. I was a founder of the Swiss photographers' agency Lookat Photos in 1990. A two-time World Press Award winner, I have also been awarded several Swiss national scholarships. My work has been widely exhibited and it is represented in various collections.
Swiss law bans the sale of cannabis with a THC rate of more than 1%. The Federal Health Office can allow its sale however in some cases, such as for therapeutic reasons. Sales of the items bearing the famous cannabis leaf symbol are still thriving though.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.