Synthetic cannabinoids, HHC and Delta-8: new warnings in Switzerland

On 10 October 2026, new warnings were issued about cannabis handed in to Swiss drug-checking services: the analyses found cannabis containing the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-ADB, cannabis containing various synthetic cannabinoids and cannabis containing Delta-8-THC. The notices from Saferparty.ch, relayed by the mindzone.info portal, follow those of 25 September about a "THC" cannabis flower containing 5F-ADB and a vape containing Delta-8-THC.

In brief

• On 10 October 2026, three Swiss warnings concerned cannabis containing 5F-ADB, various synthetic cannabinoids and Delta-8-THC.
• According to Infodrog, synthetic cannabinoids triggered 15 warnings in 2025 (19 in 2024); a further 24 caution notices concerned semi-synthetics such as Delta-8-THC and HHC.
• According to Infodrog, cannabis treated with synthetic cannabinoids cannot be recognised by appearance, smell, taste or price: a laboratory analysis is needed.

What was reported

The warnings give neither the place nor the date of the samples, which were handed in to Swiss drug-checking services. The same lists also include substances sold under the name of another.

5F-ADB is a synthetic cannabinoid, produced by chemical synthesis. Delta-8-THC and HHC, by contrast, are described as semi-synthetic: according to Infodrog, they are made by chemically converting natural cannabinoids and occur in the hemp plant only in trace amounts, if at all.

The 2025 figures

The 2026 report by Infodrog, the Swiss national coordination centre for addiction, counts 15 warnings due to synthetic cannabinoids in 2025 (19 in 2024) and 24 "caution" notices for semi-synthetics such as Delta-8-THC and HHC. According to the report, these substances appear to be gradually disappearing from the market; the autumn 2026 warnings show, however, that samples of this kind are still being handed in for analysis.

How synthetic cannabinoids end up on hemp

According to an Infodrog fact sheet from March 2025, synthetic cannabinoids are mostly sprayed onto CBD hemp or added to Hashish. The product is then sold on the black market as ordinary THC cannabis. The average price reported by buyers, around 10 francs per gram, is the same as for untreated cannabis, and neither appearance, smell nor taste reveals the additive. Since late 2022, "THC" liquids, vapes and edibles containing synthetic or semi-synthetic cannabinoids have also appeared.

The phenomenon is not new: tio.ch described it as early as November 2023, following a similar wave in 2020.

Traceability, lab analysis and drug checking

Since a treated product cannot be told apart by sight or by price, two things remain verifiable: documentation of its origin and laboratory analysis. For testing, Infodrog refers to Swiss drug-checking services and to the drugchecking.ch platform, which is also available in Italian. In Zurich, for example, Saferparty tests cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids on Wednesdays from 16:30 to 18:30, free of charge and anonymously, by appointment.

Frequently asked questions

What is 5F-ADB?

A synthetic cannabinoid, produced by chemical synthesis. The Swiss warnings of 25 September and 10 October 2026 detected it in cannabis samples.

How many warnings did synthetic cannabinoids trigger in 2025?

According to Infodrog's 2026 report, 15 warnings (19 in 2024), plus 24 "caution" notices for semi-synthetics such as Delta-8-THC and HHC.

Can cannabis treated with synthetic cannabinoids be recognised by eye?

According to Infodrog, no: neither appearance, smell, taste nor price gives it away. A laboratory analysis is needed.

Where can cannabis be tested in Switzerland?

Infodrog refers to Swiss drug-checking services and to the drugchecking.ch platform. In Zurich, for example, Saferparty tests cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids on Wednesdays from 16:30 to 18:30, free of charge and anonymously, by appointment.

The differences between CBD flowers and CBD Hashish are explained in our guide.

Sources

• mindzone.info – Aktuelle Substanzwarnungen von Saferparty.ch, 10 October 2026
• mindzone.info – Aktuelle Substanzwarnungen von Saferparty.ch, 25 September 2026
• Infodrog – Kiffen, sniffen, spicken & Co. – Bericht 2026, 2026 (publication date not stated)
• Infodrog – (Halb-)Synthetische Cannabinoide – Faktenblatt für Suchtfachpersonen, March 2025
• Saferparty.ch – Drug Checking, accessed 12 October 2026
• drugchecking.ch – Drug Checking, accessed 12 October 2026
• tio.ch – Giù le mani da quest'erba, 29 November 2023

Updated on 12 October 2026.