This is a question based on pure curiosity, as I keep smelling it where I live!
What is the law on smoking Cannibis in Zurich?
Hello,
Cannabis in Switzerland
mostly they'll give you a slap on the wrist or a fine, and conviscate your swag.
There's some kind of law, but it normally isn't enforced.
Tom
So, is it legal to smoke or not ? Excluding production, incitement and trade...
Unless you are smoking in a non-smoking area, it shouldn't be a problem.
Tom
It's like flushing the loo - if no one sees it, hears it or smells it then it doesn't exist.
Yes, it is.
It is definitely illegal, but generally the police will turn a blind eye as long as your not being obnoxious about it, blowing it in their face, blazing around children etc. etc.
Dealing is taken a bit more seriously from what I heard.
I used to have a couple friends that were undercover Kripo in Zurich, and one time I asked about it, and they said that they have more important stuff to do than worry about someone smoking a joint or shooting up.
Tom
Illegal, but generaly ignored, pubs and clubs vary in tolerance.
You never know where zeal lies.
Ya that was what I was wondering as well. Back home, you can get away with it in less public areas but if you get caught you will probably be in trouble, so people usually only smoke at home or dark corners or the outdoors. But here it seems that people smoke it anywhere. In concert halls, in parks, at swimming places its not uncommon to see someone rolling up. I would be so freaked out to roll one out in public. But I guess ya it is illegal, but they dont really enforce the law too strongly.
That being said, a friend of my partner got a Fr300 fine for having a rolled joint in her bag when she was stopped in a traffic control. She wasn't driving but still got such a hectic fine. She and the driver also had to do a drug test and the car was searched. Lucky for them the rest of the stash was well hidden. So something like that happening makes me wonder why there is that double standard, when I have seen cops walking past a group in town who were smoking, but not in a obvious way, but did nothing.
Basically, it's totally illegal. But the insanely light penalties (less than a month's wages for dealing a kilo of weed, not that this is that relevant to most weed dealers) mean it is, in practice, completely legal.
Basically you'll still get a fine if you carry a certain amount (5-10g) with you, with repeated offences you might get in a bit more trouble. Carrying 1-2g with you however should never be a problem as it's obviously a consumption amount.
Consuming weed is not criminalised here, you will not get arrested or fined for smoking weed, the police might ask you however to smoke elsewhere (if you get caught smoking it in public) or how much you have with you. Honesty brings you further than lecturing them about your rights, so show them how much you carry with you and it's no problem.
@Traubert: Citing laws in this case is of little use as it all depends whether or not a law is actually enforced and I can tell you it's not. Consumption is effectively decriminalised even if it's NOT legal. That solution is commonly accepted; no endorsement by making it legal but no overcrowding jails like in the US for having a joint on you either.
@ChocolateBear: Driving with a joint (whether you intend to smoke it or not) is obviously something entirely different than rolling one in a park - don't see any double standards there. That said, it is to a good degree up to the good will of the policeman in question if you get fined or not.
@Simon_CH
I can tell you that citing laws is relevant. I speak from both personal and associated experience.
One cops negligible offense is another cops career bust. If you get a buntzli asshole cop who wants to make a meal of it, beliebve me they will.
Several people told me its perfectly legal to grow a small amount of weed for personal use. Not sure of the legitimacy of that claim.
Having lived before in San Francisco, I can say from experience that weed in Suisse & the fallout of smoking it is similar...You see it & smell it everywhere and unless you're making a nuisance of yourself, few people care...Will vary from place to place but even the Suisse themselves have voted to try & legalize it in the recent past (failed but growing support)...My guess is that the country will soon legalize it
Check this thread (somewhere there might be an answer):
It's quite an old thread, but information towards the end is more recent.
I don't know how to do multiquote, but the citation you provided said "illegal narcotics," yet did not stipulate how narcotics are defined.
Coop sells a cannabis ice tea...smells stronger than it is