Swiss region to test run legalising cannabis

GENEVA, Aug 18 (AFP): The Swiss Basel-Stadt region said Thursday it would launch a pilot trial next month for the legal sale of cannabis, marking a first step in Switzerland towards possible legalisation.
The northern canton said in a statement that it would launch its WEED CARE study on September 15, and that people could now sign up to be among the 370 participants.
"The scientific knowledge gained from this provides a basis for discussion for a future responsible cannabis policy," Basel-Stadt said in a statement.
Cannabis can currently only be purchased legally in the wealthy Alpine nation for medical use, or for non-medical use when it contains below one percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the component that gets recreational users high.
Purchasing hashish meanwhile is illegal regardless of the THC level.