Swiss parliamentary cannabis votes

Key cannabis votes in the National Council and Council of States, approval share per group.

Key facts

  • Votes captured: 12
  • Period: 2008–2026
  • Highest approval: Art. 8a pilots 2020 (68%)

Key takeaways

  • SP (92%), Greens (96%) and GLP (88%) back cannabis bills almost unanimously; the SVP only at 14%.
  • The Centre party, at 42% approval, is the pivotal group for any future majority.
  • Approval peaked with the 2020 pilot article (140:47 in the National Council) and was far tighter for market regulation in 2024 (108:81).

Interpretation

Voting patterns explain the pace of Swiss cannabis policy better than any poll: comfortable majorities for scientifically framed interim steps, only a narrow one for an open market. As long as the Centre stays split, any bill will need strong youth-protection, advertising-ban and state-control elements. The Council of States remains the biggest risk, where rural cantons carry more weight.

Limitations

  • Group shares are averaged across several votes and do not reproduce single votes exactly.
  • Only roll-call votes are analysable; committee decisions are missing.
  • Group switches between legislative terms are not adjusted for.

Data

YearVoteChamberResult
2013Ordnungsbussen BetmGNR108:70
2020Art. 8a BetmG (Pilotversuche)NR140:47
2021Verlängerung PilotversucheSR39:2
2024Motion SGK-N regulierter MarktNR108:81
2025Prüfungsauftrag RegulierungSR26:16

Methodology

Roll-call votes from Curia Vista, aggregated per parliamentary group. Only objects with a direct cannabis reference.

Sources

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