DRUG LIBERALS GAINING GROUND

Drug liberal ideas are gaining ground in Europe. But Sweden is seen as a
symbol for the resistance against drug liberalism. Consequently the
position of the Swedish government on drug issues is followed with great
interest by both sides of the debate.

The lines of contention in the European narcotics debate are drawn between
a liberal and a restrictive view of drug policy. Those who advocate the
liberal position maintain that it is impossible to banish narcotics from
society and that the most important thing is to reduce harm, for example by
suppyling drug abusers with clean needles and hygenic injection rooms. And
the drug liberal line has been making progress the last few years.

"This very pragmatic view is gaining ground," says Susanne Schardt,
executive director of the drug liberal network ECDP (European Cities on
Drug Policy) which has its headquarters in Frankfurt.

"It is easy to be a little depressed when you look at the map of Europe,"
says Malou Lindholm, ex-Europarliamentarian who now works for HNN, an
international network for a restrictive narcotics policy.

What Susan Schardt sees as one of the greatest successes, Malou Lindholm
describes as "A great cloud of depression": The German government has
recently reformed its narcotics policy and has gone from a restrictive line
to what is called "Harm Reduction". Narcotics issues have been moved from
the interior ministry to the health ministry, cannabis has been
decriminalised, the law has been changed making it possible to open
injection rooms in the cities, trials are to begin with the prescription of
heroin on medical grounds.

"And from the European Parliament I know that what Germany does carries
great weight. This causes concern for the future in the European Union,"
says Malou Lindholm. She is also worried by signals from the Italian
government about a new narcotics strategy and is expecting new drug liberal
advances in the EU in the future.

But Sweden stands out as the strongest balwark for a restrictive policy.

"Sweden har become a symbol for zero tolerance policy," says Susanne
Schardt and adds that Sweden has very activly fought the liberal line since
becoming a member of the European Union.

But she is activly folowing the debate in Sweden and notes that Sweden is
not going to prioritise drug issues during it's half year as European
Union chairman.

"Perhaps you are going to change your narcotics policy," she says hopfully.

She did not know that Swedens new Minister of Justice had earlier criticised
the criminalisation of narcotics consumption, but she thought it sounded
like a "very promisisng development".

Malou Lindholm does not believe the Swedish government is about to change
the drugs policy. But she thinks it is important that Swedish politicians
in leading positions, especially the Social and Justice ministers, also
stand wholeheartedly behind the restrictive Swedish line.

"It is extremely important that Swedish politicians put the foot down and
make it clear we are not thinking of giving up the fight," she says.