-Caveat Lector-
INTERNATIONAL
HEADLINES
Swiss prepare to decriminalize pot
By PETER CAPELLA
The Guardian
October 03, 2000
GENEVA, Switzerland - Switzerland is preparing legislation that
effectively would allow the consumption of marijuana, adding to the
country's pioneering but controversial record on drugs policy.
The government said it would draw up legislation next year after
consultation among local authorities and community associations
revealed that there was widespread support for decriminalizing
marijuana.
"Two-thirds of the organizations consulted said they were in favor of
this move," Interior Minister Ruth Dreifuss said.
But the same groups opposed any such move on hard drugs, and
officials ruled out softer laws on possessing or using such
substances.
Switzerland has the most liberal approach in Europe towards the
treatment of heroin addicts. Since 1998 it has provided clean
needles and allowed the distribution of heroin to addicts under
strict medical supervision.
The policy, approved by Swiss voters in 1998 but criticized by
international drug enforcement bodies, also involves tougher
prevention measures, comprehensive social support for addicts and
a police clampdown on heroin users as well as dealers.
As many as 937 addicts were on record as following this heroin
program last December. Health authorities said the system had
improved the social conditions and overall health of about two-thirds
of those treated for two years and brought their drug habit under
control.
Deaths from heroin overdoses have also been declining in recent
years, according to official figures, but there has been a surge in
the consumption of cocaine and synthetic drugs such as ecstasy.
Swiss police and justice officials have said they fear "drug tourism"
if soft drugs are legalized, especially if the country is out of step
with its neighbors.
The new legislation on marijuana is likely to include a minimum
age of 16 or 18 years, and reinforced penalties for dealers and
anyone who "incites consumption."
But marijuana would, in effect, be put on an equivalent footing to
alcohol and cigarettes.
"We also need prevention measures because, quite frankly, we
don't want young people to take up cannabis," said Suzanne Auer,
a spokeswoman for the Swiss Interior Ministry.
The Swiss cabinet has not yet decided whether production and
sale of marijuana would also be tolerated, but Dreifuss said that if
producers respected some restrictions, their activities "could be
tolerated even though still punishable by law."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. For more Guardian
news go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/)
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