Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Cannabis is once again high on the agenda as the campaign ahead of a nationwide vote on Switzerland's drugs policy gathers pace.
A first opinion poll found that the prescription of her*oin for addicts stands a good chance of passing on November 30. However, a proposal to decriminalise cannabis attracts neither a clear majority of supporters nor opponents six weeks before the ballot.
"Both camps are equally strong and the debate focuses on whether hemp is a health risk or not," said Claude Longchamp of the GfS Bern polling and research institute.
Those who believe that a ban on pot smoking is ineffective have a majority at present, Longchamp added.
Forty-five per cent of respondents in the poll said they would vote for decriminalisation, while 42 per cent came out against.
However, Longchamp is uncertain whether supporters will hold on to their lead.
The people's initiative foresees the legalisation of psychoactive hemp for personal consumption, while the trade and cultivation of hemp would be subject to state control. The state would also have to ensure that minors don't have access to cannabis products.
Four-pillar strategy
The government's four-pillar strategy on drugs – based on prevention, harm reduction, therapy and repression – is very likely to win a majority at the polls.
Longchamp says the 43 per cent margin between supporters and opponents is not expected to crumble because even the grassroots of rightwing parties approve the official policy.
It will be the third ballot on drugs in just over a decade. In 1998 voters rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis just one year after they turned down a call at the other end of the scale to introduce a restrictive drugs policy based on abstinence.
Success
"It is telling that drugs issues are no longer top of the list of public concerns, unlike 20 years ago," he said.
Switzerland played a pioneering role which has been adopted by more than 80 countries worldwide.
Cannabis
Drugs experts are pleading that cannabis consumption should be considered in a wider context.
"A majority of the government advisory committee stands by its conclusions from 1999 to find a system regulating access to cannabis products."
The committee headed by François van der Linde said prevention and the protection of underage youth should also be taken into account.
In its campaign the government cautioned against rushing through legislation for which there was no majority in parliament four years ago.
Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said decriminalising pot smoking could pose problems for Switzerland as a signatory state of international conventions on cannabis use.
Other opponents, particularly the rightwing Swiss People's Party, warned of the health hazards for young cannabis consumers and the negative impact for Switzerland's image abroad.
"Switzerland would become the drug Mecca of Europe," said People's Party parliamentarian Andrea Geissbühler.
Backing
Supporters of cannabis decriminalisation argue that the proposal foresees state control for the trade and cultivation of hemp.
Such regulation is better able to protect young people who might otherwise try to buy dope on the black market, according to Maria Roth-Bernasconi, a parliamentarian of the centre-left Social Democrats.
The camp in favour also has backing not only from the Left of the political spectrum, but also from unexpected quarters, including the centre-right Radical Party and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper.
The respected daily describes both the amended drugs law and the hemp initiative as a step in the right direction.
"A policy which is only based on abstinence, bans and repression ultimately leads to more spending on welfare. It also is against the spirit of liberalism and leaves no room for people to take responsibility for themselves."
*some content has been edited to meet posting guidelines
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: swissinfo.ch
Copyright: 2008 swissinfo.ch
Contact: swissinfo.ch
Website: swissinfo - Switzerland's liberal drugs policy to be decided at polls
A first opinion poll found that the prescription of her*oin for addicts stands a good chance of passing on November 30. However, a proposal to decriminalise cannabis attracts neither a clear majority of supporters nor opponents six weeks before the ballot.
"Both camps are equally strong and the debate focuses on whether hemp is a health risk or not," said Claude Longchamp of the GfS Bern polling and research institute.
Those who believe that a ban on pot smoking is ineffective have a majority at present, Longchamp added.
Forty-five per cent of respondents in the poll said they would vote for decriminalisation, while 42 per cent came out against.
However, Longchamp is uncertain whether supporters will hold on to their lead.
The people's initiative foresees the legalisation of psychoactive hemp for personal consumption, while the trade and cultivation of hemp would be subject to state control. The state would also have to ensure that minors don't have access to cannabis products.
Four-pillar strategy
The government's four-pillar strategy on drugs – based on prevention, harm reduction, therapy and repression – is very likely to win a majority at the polls.
Longchamp says the 43 per cent margin between supporters and opponents is not expected to crumble because even the grassroots of rightwing parties approve the official policy.
It will be the third ballot on drugs in just over a decade. In 1998 voters rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis just one year after they turned down a call at the other end of the scale to introduce a restrictive drugs policy based on abstinence.
Success
"It is telling that drugs issues are no longer top of the list of public concerns, unlike 20 years ago," he said.
Switzerland played a pioneering role which has been adopted by more than 80 countries worldwide.
Cannabis
Drugs experts are pleading that cannabis consumption should be considered in a wider context.
"A majority of the government advisory committee stands by its conclusions from 1999 to find a system regulating access to cannabis products."
The committee headed by François van der Linde said prevention and the protection of underage youth should also be taken into account.
In its campaign the government cautioned against rushing through legislation for which there was no majority in parliament four years ago.
Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said decriminalising pot smoking could pose problems for Switzerland as a signatory state of international conventions on cannabis use.
Other opponents, particularly the rightwing Swiss People's Party, warned of the health hazards for young cannabis consumers and the negative impact for Switzerland's image abroad.
"Switzerland would become the drug Mecca of Europe," said People's Party parliamentarian Andrea Geissbühler.
Backing
Supporters of cannabis decriminalisation argue that the proposal foresees state control for the trade and cultivation of hemp.
Such regulation is better able to protect young people who might otherwise try to buy dope on the black market, according to Maria Roth-Bernasconi, a parliamentarian of the centre-left Social Democrats.
The camp in favour also has backing not only from the Left of the political spectrum, but also from unexpected quarters, including the centre-right Radical Party and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper.
The respected daily describes both the amended drugs law and the hemp initiative as a step in the right direction.
"A policy which is only based on abstinence, bans and repression ultimately leads to more spending on welfare. It also is against the spirit of liberalism and leaves no room for people to take responsibility for themselves."
*some content has been edited to meet posting guidelines
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: swissinfo.ch
Copyright: 2008 swissinfo.ch
Contact: swissinfo.ch
Website: swissinfo - Switzerland's liberal drugs policy to be decided at polls
