Answer
Any research involving cannabis outside the medical field requires an exceptional licence from the FOPH since the handling of cannabis for non-medical purposes remains prohibited. This includes non-application-oriented basic research, e.g. on the active substance THC (i.e. research on and with the substance itself), as well as application-oriented research on cannabis for non-medical purposes.
Pilot trials involving cannabis conducted under Article 8a of the Narcotics Act require a specific licence (not an exceptional licence). Further information can be found here.