SWISS GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO LEGALIZE POT USE

The Swiss government Friday endorsed a draft law that would legalize the
consumption of marijuana and hashish and allow a limited number of "dope
shops."

The bill submitted to parliament seeks to bring Swiss law in line with the
reality that one-fourth of the people aged 15-24 regularly use the drugs 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 in a statement.