Switzerland, the Birthplace of the Modern CBD Market

Today, you can buy CBD flowers, CBD oils, resins and e-liquids throughout Switzerland and across much of Europe. Yet less than ten years ago, this market simply did not exist.

Between 2016 and today, Switzerland has gone from being an experimental testing ground to a global reference point for CBD. We were fortunate enough to experience this journey from the inside.

Here’s a look back at a revolution that has profoundly transformed the cannabis industry.

The Origins of Modern CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is obviously not a recent discovery.

As early as the 1960s, researchers began identifying the main cannabinoids found in cannabis. Among them, the renowned Israeli professor Raphael Mechoulam, often considered the father of modern cannabinoid research, played a major role in advancing our understanding of CBD and THC.

For several decades, scientific work was carried out primarily in Israel and the United States. American breeders gradually developed CBD-rich varieties, while Israeli researchers demonstrated the many biological properties of this molecule.

At that time, no one could have imagined that this research would give birth to an entirely new global industry.

Why Switzerland Changed the History of Cannabis

Unlike most European countries, Switzerland has long permitted the cultivation of cannabis containing less than 1% THC.

This limit proved particularly significant.

While most European countries capped THC at 0.2% (later 0.3%), Switzerland allowed up to 1%.

This difference changed everything.

Producers quickly realised it was possible to select varieties that were exceptionally rich in CBD while remaining entirely legal.

And so the first true CBD cannabis industry was born.

2016: The Real Starting Point of the Swiss Market

The year 2016 will remain etched in the history of Swiss cannabis.

The first commercial crops appeared.

The first laboratories began analysing flowers.

The first specialist shops opened their doors.

The first official enquiries were submitted to customs authorities to confirm the possibility of producing and selling these new CBD-rich varieties.

At that time, everything had yet to be invented.

Producers, laboratories, growers, distributors, lawyers and even the authorities were all learning together how to build a new market.

Very few people imagined that just a few years later, several hundred companies would be working in the CBD space.

The Cannatrade That Surprised All of Europe

Cannatrade 2016 will probably remain one of the most defining events of this revolution.

Visitors discovered fully legal cannabis flowers for the very first time.

Producers showcased their first CBD-rich genetics.

CBD oils also made their appearance, even though their commercial potential was still largely underestimated.

The success exceeded all expectations.

European media finally began talking about legal cannabis.

Visitors came from across Europe to understand what was happening in Switzerland.

No one had anticipated such a revolution.

The First Players in Swiss CBD

The pioneers of Swiss CBD were, above all, passionate individuals.

They came from very different backgrounds:

• industrial hemp growers;
• cannabis producers;
• horticulturalists;
• analytical laboratories;
• genetics breeders;
• entrepreneurs specialising in vaping.

Within a very short time, dozens of companies came into existence.

Some specialised in cultivation.

Others in extraction.

Some became wholesalers.

Others created the first CBD oil brands.

Switzerland quickly became Europe’s largest laboratory for legal cannabis.

The Euphoria of the Early Years

Between 2016 and 2018, demand exploded.

CBD flowers were being sold at news kiosks.

Tobacconists stocked them.

Petrol stations followed suit.

Specialist shops multiplied.

Major retail chains began listing CBD products.

The media covered the phenomenon on a daily basis.

For several months, demand far outpaced supply.

Prices were high.

Margins were substantial.

Everyone wanted a share of this new economy.

The Gradual Decline in Prices

As with all emerging industries, supply eventually caught up with — and surpassed — demand.

Cultivation areas grew considerably.

Growing techniques improved.

Yields increased.

Producers became more efficient.

The result:

CBD flower prices gradually fell.

This decline forced companies to adapt.

The less professional players disappeared.

The best ones invested in quality, testing and brand identity.

The market entered a phase of maturity.

The Specialisation of Companies

From 2019 onwards, a new generation of companies emerged.

Some developed expertise in:

• Full Spectrum CBD oils;
• pure extracts;
• CBD isolates;
• terpenes;
• cosmetic products;
• e-liquids;
• vape cartridges;
• wellness products.

The sector professionalised rapidly.

Laboratories acquired increasingly advanced equipment.

Quality control became the norm.

Comprehensive testing — covering cannabinoids, heavy metals, pesticides and residual solvents — became essential.

Europe Discovers CBD

While Switzerland was building its market, the rest of Europe was watching closely.

Gradually:

• Germany opened up to CBD;
• France eased its regulations;
• Austria developed its own market;
• the Czech Republic emerged as a significant player;
• several other countries followed suit.

Swiss companies then began exporting their expertise.

CBD became a truly European product.

Italy Becomes a Production Giant

Among all European countries, Italy has probably experienced the most spectacular growth.

Thanks to its particularly favourable climate, its large agricultural areas and production costs lower than those in Switzerland, Italian producers quickly developed a highly competitive offering.

Today, a significant share of the CBD flowers sold across Europe comes from Italy.

Competition has intensified considerably.

The Current Market

Today’s CBD market looks nothing like it did in 2016.

Consumers are now looking for:

• impeccable quality;
• full traceability;
• laboratory testing;
• controlled cultivation methods;
• clean extraction processes;
• innovative products.

Price is no longer the only deciding factor.

Trust has become essential.

The companies investing in quality, transparency and research are the ones building the future of this industry.

And Tomorrow?

CBD continues to evolve.

New cannabinoids are emerging.

Extraction techniques are advancing.

Products are becoming ever more sophisticated.

Switzerland, however, holds a special place in this story.

It is here that the modern CBD market truly took off.

At TheGreenLab, we are proud to have been part of this journey from the very beginning, and to continue developing products that meet the highest standards of quality, safety and transparency.

The story of CBD is only just beginning.