Will Switzerland legalize cannabis?

[Twilight]

Mark this date in your calendar: On November 30th a referendum will be held among the people of Switzerland about whether to completely legalize possession, sale, and cultivation of cannabis. We're talking *legalization*, not grey area style toleration as in the Netherlands. Meaning, that if successful, pot would be sold in supermarkets just like alcohol, if you're an adult. (with the only ban left being advertising of cannabis, so it would be similar to tobacco ad bans)

The funny thing is the initiative is even supported by conservative politicians there, conceding that past drug policies have failed in reducing the number of cannabis users, thus they're now willing to try the legalization/regulation route. Talk about a progressive country!

Imagine something like that happening elsewhere in the world! Not going to happen anytime soon! Flocks of Republicans (Ron Paul doesn't count) jumping the bandwagons of legalization campaigns, yeah right!

Hooray to direct democracy!

 

[Forkbender]

This sounds almost too good to be true. Do you have a media-link supporting this story?

 

[Twilight]

I was in doubt to post it here without a media link, but I found it here.
Unfortunately I'm not sure if that site can be trusted, and they also don't have a link.

I really hope it is true. It doesn't sound like something that would be lied about.

 

[BrainEater]

Amazing!!! Now i know to what country i will move. Germany has no longer anything to offer for me.....

I mean Holland is amazing, too, but unfortunately i don't understand dutch language that good...

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

and they also don't have a link.

Here is the official news item:

Drugs law faces public vote
Changes to the law governing drug use for scientific or therapeutic purposes look set to go to a nationwide vote in November.

Opponents to the changes made to the legislation – members of the ultra conservative Federal Democratic Union and of the rightwing Swiss People's Party - say they have collected more than the 50,000 signatures required to force a referendum.

The revisions in the law being challenged permit the use of psychoactive substances for scientific or therapeutic purposes. These include heroin and other drugs.

The referendum also opposes measures aimed at decriminalising the use of small quantities of drugs.

Parliament endorsed the revised law in March and the Swiss government has already decided that the legislation would go to the vote in November if the referendum process were succesful.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/search/Result.html?siteSect=882&ty=nd&sid=9305307

http://hempyreumenglish.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/switzerland-referendum-for-decriminalisation/

 

[Twilight]

Yeah, it seems Switzerland is the only real democracy in the world at the moment.
Plus, holding a referendum for legalization of cannabis is something that (sadly) even the Netherlands wouldn't dare to do, in a short term.

Damnit, I'm moving to Switzerland if the drug policies are getting worse here.

[add] Thanks a lot for posting that article!

 

[mysticwarrior]

That's really good news, i hope the people will vote for legislation!

 

[Bastiaan]

Same goes for me, if its true it's quite something
An indication that not the entire world is ran by pea-brained egotistic bastards and that at least a part of the world may actually be going somewhere
An indication that people might be starting to use their brain as well as their hearts a little more
This is big news

 

[BrainEater]

I hope too they vote vor legislation.... I hope i will be able to move there when it's legalised... I hope though, too, that Switzerland won't be overrun by weed-smokers....

 

[GOD]

I hope it works but first the referendum has to be positive and then the government has to aprove it . But again big brother doing more for legislation / solving our "drug" problems than we are .

 

[restin]

yes, this is very true. I'm from Switzerland myself and am proud if it

During a presentation a socialists party member smoked a joint while presenting...

Unfortunately, still, the main reason for a lot of politicians (and citizens) to legalize it, is the hope that less youngsters would smoke cannabis. :?

 

[Twilight]

yes, this is very true. I'm from Switzerland myself and am proud if it

During a presentation a socialists party member smoked a joint while presenting...

Unfortunately, still, the main reason for a lot of politicians (and citizens) to legalize it, is the hope that less youngsters would smoke cannabis. :?

The main thing that you should worry about is that everyone will use it with responsibility, in that way they won't know the exact amount of users because there won't be much misuse.

The key is to make it a boring subject for people, so no advertisement is a good thing, also no ads for the possible 'dangers' of it and so forth.

 

[restin]

Very true. So I am really worried that some kids will stand at the bus stop in the centre of the city, smoking joints etc. so that the public gets attention and starts to worry and reverse the legalisation again :?

 

[Forkbender]

Unfortunately, still, the main reason for a lot of politicians (and citizens) to legalize it, is the hope that less youngsters would smoke cannabis. :?

On the one hand this might be a good thing. And they are probably true, since you can regulate it more easily if it is legal (less uncontrollable crime). On the other hand they might say this to convince the opposition.

 

[restin]

On the other hand they might say this to convince the opposition.

yes and no. I once had a discussion with a friend and I said "well,why shouldn't we legalize cannabis?" And she just said "well I don't believe that the consumption of cannabis would get lower"

PS: medical research on drugs is already legal here...

 

[Forkbender]

but drug-related crime would.

 

[Elfinn]

I think legalisation will make peace within the mind of the people.
why should there not be peace within the mind of man and his wives?

Look,mushrooms are growing freely
they need not be legalised
as they see themselves as liberty caps
why should we treat marihuana like it was a B L A C K T H I N G ?

first it was the slaves,they where finally freed by greedey white man

now its like the last skeleton wrestling the only joy left to inhale

i think its a monster keeping them eyes shut
but a crack in the head of the gobbler
is letting unadulterated light shine in
now we are waiting for the sun.
together with JIm.

 

[jmv]

yes, this is very true. I'm from Switzerland myself and am proud if it

Have you seen any polls showing the percentage of Swiss people that support voting for legalizing it in the November referendum? I haven't been able to find any via google in English (I don't speak German, French, or Italian).

 

[restin]

The people have started talking about it only recently. It is only known that the liberal and social parties support it, it will be voted about in November I think. Direct democracy is cool but very slow, unfortunately. But what I can say is that the youth will support the legalization- the use of cannabis is very high in Switzerland (one of the highest in the world I think. But, as in most parts of the world the youth uses it for fun). I will tell you more when I know, for the next week I´m stuck here in Norway, so I´ll inform myself when I´m back in Switzerland.

 

[jmv]

The people have started talking about it only recently. It is only known that the liberal and social parties support it, it will be voted about in November I think. Direct democracy is cool but very slow, unfortunately. But what I can say is that the youth will support the legalization- the use of cannabis is very high in Switzerland (one of the highest in the world I think. But, as in most parts of the world the youth uses it for fun). I will tell you more when I know, for the next week I´m stuck here in Norway, so I´ll inform myself when I´m back in Switzerland.

Thank you for your insight. I look forward to hearing more from you.