Swiss Review 5/2021

Swiss Review / October 2021 / No.5 12 Society STÉPHANE HERZOG The name Bernard Rappaz was back in the news a few months ago in Ge- neva, with Holyweed, a brand special- ising in the sale of CBD: cannabis without the high. One salespersonwas eager to sing the praises of the Swiss organic produce. And to cite the name of the famous Valais hemp farmer as a partner in the company. Upon enquiry, it was found that the commercial in- terest of the herald of hemp, or the dealer of the century, depending on your opinion, had come to an end. “I left the company. I asked that my name no longer be associated with this brand,” clarified Rappaz. Cannabis, which led to the fall of the Valais hemp farmer, is back on the Swiss scene. Hemp production has greatly increased thanks to the re- lease of CBD. Between 2008 and 2020, the area dedicated to this crop has grown from six to 320 hectares, ac- cording to the Swiss Farmers’ Union. Ironically, Switzerland is set to begin testing the distribution of marijuana, which will serve as a further boost to the cultivation of this illegal plant. Adventurer is the best word to de- scribe this child of Saxon, who comes from an agricultural family, and who transitioned fromgrowing apricots to growing cannabis in the 1990s. Media attention, arrests, prison, trials, ap- peals: this cannabis sativa activist has lived a wild life. “Rappaz? He’s an ex- cellent agitator,” comments sociolo- gist Gabriel Bender from Valais, men- Bernard Rappaz, self-proclaimed Winkelried of cannabis The pugnacious hemp farmer from Valais, Bernard Rappaz, returned to the media spotlight with a brand of legal cannabis. But the adventure was cut short. Having experienced both fame and prison, the rebel has withdrawn to the village of Isérables. The plant to which he has devoted his life is now booming. Maverick farmer and rebel Bernard Rappaz in his element: surrounded by hemp. Archive photo: Keystone (2003)