PARLIAMENT MOVES TOWARDS LEGALISING CANNABIS

The Senate Has Approved A Government Proposal To Allow The Consumption
Of Cannabis.

Pending approval by the House of Representatives, the production and
trade in hashish and marijuana could also become legal under certain
conditions.

The amended law, which was accepted by 25 votes and no opposition in
the Senate, is aimed at catching up with present-day reality. More
than 700,000 people between the age of 15 and 30 have smoked cannabis
at least once in their lives.

While the consumption of hashish and marijuana would be legalised, the
cultivation and sale of cannabis would only be allowed under certain
conditions.

The interior minister, Ruth Dreifuss, said during Wednesday's debate
that the liberalisation was in line with the government's anti-drugs
policy. It is based on prevention, repression, therapy and harm reduction.

She stressed that hard drugs, including heroin, will not be allowed in
Switzerland under the amended law.

Heated Debate

The issue of legalisation of cannabis consumption divided the Senate.
Many speakers from the French-speaking part of the country argued that
the decriminalisation of cannabis could send the wrong signal to young
people.

They said by adopting a liberal attitude towards cannabis Switzerland
would further isolate itself and become an island in the heart of
Europe, which has a more restrictive policy. They warned that drug
addicts from neighbouring countries would travel to Switzerland to buy
cannabis.

A majority of senators, however, pointed out that the amended law was
merely a pragmatic step to bring legislation in line with reality. The
current situation was hypocritical and not satisfactory from a legal
point, they said.

The Dutch Example

The Netherlands, where soft drugs are decriminalised, were quoted a
number of times during the debate to show how a laxer policy on drugs
can work.

While hard drugs are illegal there, it is allowed to carry up to 30
grams of soft drugs.

"You also have coffee shops, where you can drink coffee or buy and
smoke a joint," Elsbeth Gugger, a Swiss journalist in the Netherlands,
told swissinfo.

"I think the Dutch policy is working, because there are not more young
people consuming soft drugs than in other countries in Western
Europe." Gugger said. "The other effect of the policy is that hard
drug addicts are getting help, and are not looked upon as criminals,
but rather persons with a health problem."