SWISS VOTERS REJECT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, HEROIN AND COCAINE

GENEVA -- Swiss voters on Sunday decisively defeated a radical measure to
legalize marijuana as well as heroin and cocaine, turning aside arguments
that a government-managed narcotics network would curb drug-related crime.

The proposal would have turned Switzerland into a virtual free-drugs zone,
with any resident over 18 years old able to buy narcotics at state-approved
pharmacies, after consulting a doctor.

Nearly 74 percent of voters rejected the initiative, which had been
expected to fail, but not to such an overwhelming extent.

"It was a surprise," said Francois Reusser, spokesman for the committee
that launched the initiative "for a sensible drug policy."

"Voters reacted emotionally to the heroin aspect," he said. However,
Reusser said he hoped lawmakers would still consider liberalizing the use
and possession of cannabis, which federal statistics indicate is regularly
consumed by some 500,000 people in Switzerland, a nation of 7 million.

He said the committee, backed by Socialists, medical doctors, lawyers and
drug experts, would consider a new campaign to collect the signatures
necessary to force a ballot vote on legalizing cannabis.

Government officials said the vote confirmed Switzerland's policy of
battling illicit drugs, but also aiding the worst-off drug addicts through
a program that gives heroin and methadone to a controlled group of abusers.
The Alpine nation has an estimated 30,000 to 36,000 hard drug addicts, one
of the highest rates in Europe.

Thomas Zeltner, chief of the federal health department, said Switzerland
was ready to review policies on soft drugs such as marijuana and hashish.
The government is proposing new laws on drugs be drawn up next year.

Checked-by: Richard Lake