In recent years, the market surrounding the hemp plant has changed considerably. While hemp products used to be seen in a one-sided way, one particular ingredient has now moved into the spotlight of public interest: CBD or Cannabidiol. The market is growing steadily, and it is becoming ever easier for consumers in Switzerland to buy legal CBD products. But since not everyone knows the subject in detail, there is often a need for explanation. What is CBD exactly, how is it made and what is the legal situation? This comprehensive guide sums up the most important facts for you, objectively and transparently.
What exactly is CBD?
The hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is one of humanity’s oldest useful and cultivated plants. For centuries, its robust fibres were used to make textiles, rope and paper. Hemp is also finding more and more uses in modern industry – as an eco-friendly building material, in fashion, or in the kitchen in the form of nutrient-rich hemp seeds and nutty cooking oil.
Beyond these classic uses, botanical and pharmaceutical research today is mainly interested in the constituents of the female hemp plant. It contains well over 100 different so-called phytocannabinoids. The two best-known and most thoroughly researched are:
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THC (tetrahydrocannabinol): The substance responsible for the well-known psychoactive, intoxicating effect of cannabis.
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CBD (cannabidiol): Another main constituent which, unlike THC, produces no intoxicating effect at all.
Special low-THC industrial hemp varieties are bred and grown to produce legal CBD products. The upper parts of the plant and the flowers of the female plant have the highest CBD content.
Good to know: CBD is a purely natural plant substance. As it has no psychoactive properties, it does not alter perception the way THC-rich products do.
The chemical diversity of the hemp plant
To understand the difference and the nature of CBD, it is worth looking at the composition of the plant. In total, hemp consists of almost 500 different constituents. Besides the phytocannabinoids (such as CBD, THC, CBG or CBN), the key roles are played above all by Terpene (aromatic oils responsible for the characteristic smell) and flavonoids (secondary plant compounds).
Production often aims to preserve these substances in their entirety. If an extract contains not only CBD but also the other natural terpenes and plant compounds, it is called a full-spectrum product. Experts are discussing whether these substances can interact with one another when combined.
Production and quality of CBD products
The quality of a CBD product depends essentially on two factors: the controlled cultivation of the raw materials and the extraction process used. Because hemp plants are extremely absorbent and readily take up substances from the soil, clean cultivation free of pollutants is the basic requirement for a high-quality end product.
After harvesting, the cannabidiol has to be separated from the plant material. Industry uses various methods for this:
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Oil extraction: A simple process in which the plant material is heated directly in a carrier oil.
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Ethanol extraction: This uses solvents to separate the substances. The process requires very careful post-processing to avoid residues.
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Hydrocarbon extraction: A method that is subject to strict safety requirements because gases are used.
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CO₂ extraction: This is considered the highest-quality, cleanest and most sustainable method, but it is also the most technically demanding.
In the CO₂ extraction process, carbon dioxide is brought into a supercritical state under high pressure and at low temperatures. It then acts as a gentle solvent that isolates the CBD and valuable terpenes without leaving pollutants behind or destroying the heat-sensitive plant compounds. The resulting extract is then usually dissolved in a high-quality carrier oil (such as hemp seed oil or MCT oil) and bottled as CBD oil or CBD drops.
Processing CBD flowers also requires craftsmanship. To guarantee a clean aroma and consistent quality, the flowers have to be gently dried, cured and trimmed by hand.
Legal situation: where is CBD legal?
The legal classification of CBD products varies greatly around the world and also within Europe. This is mainly because CBD comes from the hemp plant and legislators regulate the permitted residual THC content very strictly and individually.
In November 2020, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled that CBD obtained purely from the hemp plant is not to be classified as a narcotic, as long as it comes from legally grown industrial hemp varieties. Nevertheless, every country still does its own thing:
The situation in Switzerland
Switzerland plays a liberal pioneering role in Europe. CBD products are legal here as long as the total THC content is below 1.0% – a value that is unusually high by international standards. In Switzerland, CBD flowers are often classified as tobacco substitutes for tax and legal purposes.
The situation in Germany and Austria
In Germany and Austria, the tolerated THC limit is much lower. In Germany, CBD products may contain no more than 0.2% THC – in Austria the limit is 0.3% THC. In addition, the sale of unprocessed CBD flowers or teas to end consumers is heavily restricted or prohibited, as the authorities want to rule out any risk of commercial misuse for intoxication.
Important note on hemp oil vs. CBD oil: These two products are often confused, but they are fundamentally different. Hemp oil (cooking oil) is obtained by cold-pressing hemp seeds. It contains practically no cannabinoids (neither CBD nor THC), but is rich in healthy fatty acids for the kitchen. CBD oil on the other hand is a product or raw material that is explicitly enriched with cannabidiol.
What should you look out for when buying CBD?
With the market booming, quality varies widely. If you want to buy CBD, look for transparency and reliable information:
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THC limit values: Make sure the product complies with the legal requirements of your country of residence (e.g. < 1.0% in Switzerland).
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Origin & cultivation: Reputable manufacturers declare the country of origin of the hemp and have it tested for contaminants.
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Laboratory analyses: High-quality brands provide independent laboratory certificates (certificates of the cannabinoid profile) to prove the exact CBD and THC content in black and white.
FAQ: frequently asked questions about CBD
What is the difference between CBD and THC?
The key difference lies in the psychoactive effect. While THC directly activates receptors in the nervous system and triggers a state of intoxication (a “high”), CBD is not psychoactive. It does not get you high and does not impair your perception in everyday life.
Is CBD legal in Switzerland?
Yes, CBD products are completely legal in Switzerland as long as the total THC content is below 1,0 % – products below this value are not covered by the Swiss Narcotics Act.
Can you become addicted to CBD products?
No. In its reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified CBD as safe. There is no evidence that consuming pure cannabidiol leads to physical dependence.
How can you recognise poor-quality CBD oil?
You can often recognise inferior products by missing information on origin or a lack of laboratory reports. If an oil smells rancid or extremely pungent, has an unusually lumpy consistency or is very cloudy, this may indicate quality defects or poor storage.
Can the police confiscate legal CBD tobacco substitutes?
Because CBD flowers can hardly be distinguished from illegal, THC-rich cannabis by look or smell, they may be temporarily seized during police checks. In Swiss practice, the product is usually analysed in a laboratory. If the THC value is below 1.0%, the product is returned to its owner without any fees or fines.
Can I travel abroad with CBD products?
Great caution is needed here. As the THC limits in most European countries (e.g. 0.2% to 0.3%) are much lower than in Switzerland (1.0%), bringing Swiss CBD products into another country may be a criminal offence. Before every trip, find out exactly what the laws of your destination country say.
Sources
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Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) – legal assessment of cannabis: https://www.bag.admin.ch/
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World Health Organization (WHO) – Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report: https://www.who.int/
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Judgment of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) of 19 November 2020 – Case C-663/18: https://curia.europa.eu/
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only.
