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The420Guy
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Cannabis is the subject of an increasingly heated debate in Switzerland (Keystone)
The decriminalisation of cannabis has long been a controversial issue inSwitzerland.
A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday to discuss the possible
liberalisation of the drug in Switzerland. The Senate has already come out in favour of such a move.
However, anti-decriminalisation sentiment is growing, with the staunchest opposition centered in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Opponents of liberalisation have stepped up pressure on parliamentarians and other groups.
One of the country's leading drug prevention agencies says it has even been offered cash by campaigners to oppose the government's plans.
Since the end of last year, the countrys German-language media has
published a number of articles - often citing the British Medical
Journal AD warning of the potential psychological dangers of cannabis use.
Christine Goll, vice-president of the parliamentary commission for social security and health, believes the articles form part of an orchestrated campaign by former members of the Youth without Drugs campaign.
Goll says that campaigners have now regrouped under the Parents without Drugs association.
Opposition mounting
The commission says it has received a number of letters opposing
liberalisation, which appear to form part of a co-ordinated campaign.
These campaigners are hoping to influence parliamentarians and prevent a referendum on the decriminalisation of cannabis, Goll told swissinfo.
If parliament does agree to change the law, opponents would need to collect 50,000 signatures to force a nationwide referendum on the issue.
The Senate showed its clear support for decriminalisation in December 2001, coming out in favour of the move by 32 votes to eight.
The House of Representatives could vote on the issue during the special parliamentary session in May.
Teachers back campaign
Opponents received a boost at the end of January when the Swiss-German
teachers union (LCH) issued a statement criticising the decriminalisation
of cannabis.
Unlike alcohol, cannabis has a direct and epidemic influence on daily
school life, stated the union.
It added that it did not want school to become a therapy centre, where
people come to sober up or to catch up on their sleep.
The Swiss-French teachers union (SER) is backing the anti-decriminalisation campaign.
Marie Claire Tabin, the unions president, echoed the concerns voiced in the LCHs statement.
The risks of psychological dependence are very real, she told
swissinfo. Do we want a society full of dopey people, who take less and less responsibility for their actions?
We cant let cannabis consumption become as commonplace as eating bread
or, unfortunately, cigarettes. Drug prevention
Drug prevention agencies are, however, surprised by the teachers stance.
Michel Graf, joint director of the Swiss Institute for the Drug and Alcohol
Prevention (ISPA), is among those who believe that liberalisation is the best way of combating addiction.
Repression prevents us from being able to contact cannabis users and
helping them to stop taking the drug, Graf explained. Decriminalisatio
n allows us to treat the user as opposed to simply turning them over to the police.
Referendum
Graf says that campaigners are currently rallying support in preparation for an eventual referendum.
He told swissinfo that he had received a number of offers from certain
pressure groups willing to pay the IPSA for its backing.
Yves Guisan, a parliamentarian and doctor, is particularly critical of the teachers campaign, complaining of their insupportably lax attitude towards other substances, in particular tobacco".
Guisan, who is a member of the parliamentary commission, does not believe opponents to liberalisation will be able to influence the views of parliament.
Its a last-ditch attempt by a few die-hards; the battle is already
lost, he said. Most importantly, the commission has not changed its stance on decriminalisation.
swissinfo, Ariane Gigon Bormann in Zurich
in brief:
A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday for a three-day discussion on
the decriminalisation of cannabis.
The Senate has already come out in favour of legal cannabis consumption, and parliament is expected to also come out in favour.
Under the new legislation, possession and production of cannabis for
personal use would be allowed, as well as limited trade in the drug. But it would remain illegal to import or export cannabis and advertising would be banned.
But an anti-decriminalisation campaign, particularly strong among the
German-speaking Swiss, is rallying for support against the plans.
A parliamentary vote is likely to take place during the special session in May.
Cannabis use is currently illegal in Switzerland, but the authorities have adopted a tolerant attitude towards it.
Pubdate: Thursday, 20 Feb 2003
https://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect3D105&sid3D1642521swissinfo February 19, 2003 1:57 PM
The decriminalisation of cannabis has long been a controversial issue inSwitzerland.
A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday to discuss the possible
liberalisation of the drug in Switzerland. The Senate has already come out in favour of such a move.
However, anti-decriminalisation sentiment is growing, with the staunchest opposition centered in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Opponents of liberalisation have stepped up pressure on parliamentarians and other groups.
One of the country's leading drug prevention agencies says it has even been offered cash by campaigners to oppose the government's plans.
Since the end of last year, the countrys German-language media has
published a number of articles - often citing the British Medical
Journal AD warning of the potential psychological dangers of cannabis use.
Christine Goll, vice-president of the parliamentary commission for social security and health, believes the articles form part of an orchestrated campaign by former members of the Youth without Drugs campaign.
Goll says that campaigners have now regrouped under the Parents without Drugs association.
Opposition mounting
The commission says it has received a number of letters opposing
liberalisation, which appear to form part of a co-ordinated campaign.
These campaigners are hoping to influence parliamentarians and prevent a referendum on the decriminalisation of cannabis, Goll told swissinfo.
If parliament does agree to change the law, opponents would need to collect 50,000 signatures to force a nationwide referendum on the issue.
The Senate showed its clear support for decriminalisation in December 2001, coming out in favour of the move by 32 votes to eight.
The House of Representatives could vote on the issue during the special parliamentary session in May.
Teachers back campaign
Opponents received a boost at the end of January when the Swiss-German
teachers union (LCH) issued a statement criticising the decriminalisation
of cannabis.
Unlike alcohol, cannabis has a direct and epidemic influence on daily
school life, stated the union.
It added that it did not want school to become a therapy centre, where
people come to sober up or to catch up on their sleep.
The Swiss-French teachers union (SER) is backing the anti-decriminalisation campaign.
Marie Claire Tabin, the unions president, echoed the concerns voiced in the LCHs statement.
The risks of psychological dependence are very real, she told
swissinfo. Do we want a society full of dopey people, who take less and less responsibility for their actions?
We cant let cannabis consumption become as commonplace as eating bread
or, unfortunately, cigarettes. Drug prevention
Drug prevention agencies are, however, surprised by the teachers stance.
Michel Graf, joint director of the Swiss Institute for the Drug and Alcohol
Prevention (ISPA), is among those who believe that liberalisation is the best way of combating addiction.
Repression prevents us from being able to contact cannabis users and
helping them to stop taking the drug, Graf explained. Decriminalisatio
n allows us to treat the user as opposed to simply turning them over to the police.
Referendum
Graf says that campaigners are currently rallying support in preparation for an eventual referendum.
He told swissinfo that he had received a number of offers from certain
pressure groups willing to pay the IPSA for its backing.
Yves Guisan, a parliamentarian and doctor, is particularly critical of the teachers campaign, complaining of their insupportably lax attitude towards other substances, in particular tobacco".
Guisan, who is a member of the parliamentary commission, does not believe opponents to liberalisation will be able to influence the views of parliament.
Its a last-ditch attempt by a few die-hards; the battle is already
lost, he said. Most importantly, the commission has not changed its stance on decriminalisation.
swissinfo, Ariane Gigon Bormann in Zurich
in brief:
A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday for a three-day discussion on
the decriminalisation of cannabis.
The Senate has already come out in favour of legal cannabis consumption, and parliament is expected to also come out in favour.
Under the new legislation, possession and production of cannabis for
personal use would be allowed, as well as limited trade in the drug. But it would remain illegal to import or export cannabis and advertising would be banned.
But an anti-decriminalisation campaign, particularly strong among the
German-speaking Swiss, is rallying for support against the plans.
A parliamentary vote is likely to take place during the special session in May.
Cannabis use is currently illegal in Switzerland, but the authorities have adopted a tolerant attitude towards it.
Pubdate: Thursday, 20 Feb 2003
https://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect3D105&sid3D1642521swissinfo February 19, 2003 1:57 PM
