GERMAN DOCTORS REJECT PLAN ON SOFT DRUGS

BONN -- Germany's main doctors' association rejected a suggestion by the
nation's health minister to allow pharmacies to sell small amounts of soft
recreational drugs. Andrea Fischer, health minister in the new center-left
government, floated the idea this week, saying it could keep casual users
from moving to more dangerous substances by "separating the markets for
soft and hard drugs." Karsten Vilmar, head of the German Chamber of
Doctors, disagreed. He called the proposal "a false liberalization" that
would give a state stamp of approval to drug use and actually lead more
young people into addiction.

Checked-by: Richard Lake