GETTING HIGH MAY SOON BE LEGAL IN SWITZERLAND

BERNE, Switzerland -- The Swiss government endorsed a draft law today that
would legalize consumption of marijuana and hashish and allow a limited
number of "dope shops."

The bill submitted to Parliament seeks to bring Swiss law into line with
the reality that one in four people ages 15-24 regularly gets high in the
Alpine state, according to a poll commissioned last month by the Swiss
government.

"Decriminalizing the consumption of cannabis and the acts leading up to
this takes account of social reality and unburdens police and the courts,"
the government said.

The Cabinet agreed in principle in October to legalize dope smoking. It has
now recommended that police be allowed to turn a blind eye to people
growing and trading small amounts of soft drugs, arguing that this will
make it easier to differentiate between small- and large-scale production
and export of drugs.

The Cabinet also proposed a flexible approach to prosecuting use of other
illegal drugs while still adhering to international treaties to fight abuse.