Sold as “Baller-Liquids”, “Zombie-Liquids” or “Knaller-Liquids”, vaping liquids containing synthetic cannabinoids, sometimes called Spice, have attracted attention in Germany and France. Now cases have been reported in Switzerland, where the substances are covered by the Narcotics Act.
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The newspaper 20 Minuten has reported cases in Zurich and St Gallen. Zurich cantonal police confirm that they have encountered such products, but know of only a few cases. It is too early to say whether these signal a wider trend.
Addiction specialists are concerned. Lucas Philippoz, a spokesman for Addiction Switzerland, told SRF that the phenomenon warrants particular attention. The ingredients are often unknown, making the risks difficult to assess.
Synthetic cannabinoids mimic the effects of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, but can be far more potent, according to Addiction Switzerland. They can cause a racing heart, loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations and psychosis. In extreme cases, they can kill.
Young people may be particularly vulnerable. They are inclined to experiment, says Mr Philippoz, and e-cigarettes are already popular among them. Sweet or fruity flavours and colourful packaging appeal to this age group. Some may mistake the liquids for harmless flavourings.
How widely these products have spread in Switzerland remains unclear. Addiction Switzerland declines to predict whether their use will grow.
Zurich’s municipal addiction-prevention office says it knows of no cases in the city’s schools. Petra Buchta, its director, says the office is monitoring developments and advising schools about new substances.
Addiction Switzerland urges parents and teachers to stay alert and discuss the risks with young people. Anyone who suspects that a vaping liquid contains synthetic cannabinoids should avoid using it.
Britain’s experience also offers a warning. University of Bath researchers who tested 1,923 vapes and e-liquids confiscated from 114 English schools found synthetic cannabinoids in 13% of samples, rising to about a quarter in London and Lancashire. The findings, published in September 2025, do not establish prevalence among all vapes, but reveal a troubling market in products often mis-sold as containing THC, cannabis’s main psychoactive ingredient.
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20 Minuten article (in German)
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