A Study Investigates Black Market Cannabis Products in Canton Vaud
21.01.2026 | from Addiction Switzerland
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21.01.2026, A new study examines the cannabis products circulating in the black market of Canton Vaud and compares them with those offered under the City of Lausanne's Cann-L pilot project. The study highlights the very strong variations and uncertainties in the black market, where resins are now on average much more potent and cheaper than flowers. Although there are quantity discounts in this market, there seems to be no clear link between the price paid and the THC content. In contrast, the Cann-L pilot project offers products at similar prices, but which are significantly safer, accompanied, and sold with harm reduction measures.
Little data is available on the characteristics of the cannabis products sold on the Swiss black market. With the introduction of pilot projects for the sale of cannabis since 2023, better data on this topic is now available. Public discourse raises the question of whether these federally approved pilot projects can compete with the black market.
The report 'Analysis of THC Contents, Prices, and Purchase Methods of Cannabis on the Black Market in the Canton of Vaud' (French, with a summary in German), created by Addiction Switzerland, relies on the evaluation of five data sources: police seizures, CannCheck and drug-checking projects, the European Online Drug Survey (ESWD), and the Cann-L pilot project. This unique collection of data allows for the connection of information regarding THC contents, prices paid, purchased quantities, and procurement practices on the Vaud black market for cannabis.
Strong price variations and uncertainties regarding THC content on the black market. The data shows strong variations in the prices for cannabis products (1 to 37 CHF per gram) as well as in the THC content of flowers (1% to 33%) and resins (2% to 61%), which is not unusual for illegal markets. On these, consumers have little information to base their decisions on and are exposed to great uncertainty and various risks.
The average THC content of cannabis traded on the Vaud black market varies depending on the product type: flowers have an average of 13-15% THC, while resins have now doubled (30%) following a recent increase. In contrast, the average prices per gram for flowers (10 CHF per gram) are higher than for resins (8 CHF). The latter is usually imported and is now the product with the highest active ingredient content and the lowest price on the black market.
There is a correlation between the purchased quantity and the price, which equates to a quantity discount. For small amounts (1-3 grams), average prices are therefore significantly higher and are about 14 CHF per gram for flowers and 12 CHF for resins. On the other hand, there is no clear link between the price paid and the THC content of the two products, illustrating that this market often resembles a lottery for consumers.
Dealers and friends remain the most important sources of supply. Direct purchase is the prevailing source on the black market, mainly through dealers or friends/acquaintances, while sharing, self-production, and purchasing via the darknet or social networks seem to play a lesser role.
The Cann-L Pilot Project Compared to Products on the Black Market. The main differences between the products on the black market and those offered under the City of Lausanne's pilot project are the higher average THC content of resins and the lower prices for large quantities of cannabis. Otherwise, the pilot project’s offering appears competitive and further includes quality controls (THC content, molds, pesticides, etc.), predictability, and supervision, which are lacking on the black market. Therefore, most participants in the pilot project report having withdrawn completely or at least partially from the black market, depriving it of nearly one million francs in turnover in 2024 (Udrisard et al., 2025).
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Source: Addiction Switzerland, Press release
Original article published on: Eine Studie untersucht die Cannabisprodukte auf dem Schwarzmarkt im Kanton Waadt