With the official opening of “Grashaus Projects” Europe welcomes its first legal cannabis specialty store in a ground-breaking project. Located in the town of Allschwil in the northwest Swiss region of Basel-Landschaft, this establishment marks a historic step for both Switzerland and Europe. This week saw the opening of the community’s first legal cannabis specialty store in Europe.
Background of the first store
Grashaus Projects is now officially live after receiving permission from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). The project aims to roll out a cannabis pilot program in the Basel-Landschaft canton in October. The first of two cannabis dispensaries is currently open and has a sales area of about 110 square metres. A variety of cannabis goods containing THC are available at Grashaus Projects. These are edibles, hashish, extracts, vape liquids, and dried flowers. Interestingly, this is the first store of its kind in Europe.
Under the supervision of qualified personnel, participants at the pilot project can now buy a variety of cannabis products. Produced in compliance with Swiss organic rules, they meet the quality criteria set out by the BetmPV, thanks to SwissExtract, the cultivation partner in Switzerland. Depending on the amount of THC in each gram, cannabis flowers might cost anywhere from eight to twelve Swiss Francs.
Grashaus Projects offers a variety of devices and accessories. It includes vaporizers and grinders, from internationally famous partner brands and manufacturers such as Medusa, Steezy, Pax, HÐJ, and YewYew, in addition to cannabis consumables. In the future, the store intends to hold workshops, educational sessions covering all aspects of cannabis.
External input in the Grashaus Projects
Sanity Group is a major partner of the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF). The main objective of the initiative, according to Finn Hänsel, Sanity Group’s CEO, is to offer excellent goods in a controlled and secure setting. Hänsel emphasised that the store acts as a learning centre, which is a big step in the direction of a contemporary cannabis law in Europe.
Because of its partnership with Cannavigia, a Swiss Track&Trace company, Grashaus Projects is able to maintain complete control over the whole production process. From product development to sales, Cannavigia software can easily track all processes. It ensures compliance and quality standards along the whole value chain. By displaying their participant ID, only approved individuals are able to purchase and consume the allowed amount of cannabis.
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, Scientific Director of ISGF, an ongoing study is being conducted on the legal selling of cannabis for non-medical reasons. The purpose of the study is to learn more about the consumption habits, physical and mental health of the participants. The analysis of societal effects would involve close consultation with all relevant parties. We can mention here the prosecution, social and health departments, and the community, with a particular focus on public safety and order.
More about Grashaus Projects
Up to 3,950 healthy adults aged between 18 and 65 residing in the Basel-Landschaft canton can participate in the study. In just a few weeks, more than 200 participants have already been signed up, and more are being admitted gradually. Over the course of five years, surveys will gather information on participants’ overall health and consumption patterns. This will happen every three to six months.
The establishment of Grashaus Projects surely marks a turning point in Europe’s cannabis policy. Its success can open the door for further changes to the continent’s cannabis laws.