by Urs Geiser, swissinfo.ch

March 7, 2012 - 17:44

Parliament has launched a new attempt to decriminalise the consumption of cannabis, four years after voters rejected a proposal for the full legalisation of the drug.

The House of Representatives voted to impose a fine of SFr200 ($218) for the possession and consumption of up to ten grams of the substance instead of prosecuting the individuals.

Supporters said a pragmatic, efficient and uniform sanctioning system was necessary to deal with a social reality.
 
An estimated 500,000 mostly young people in Switzerland are believed to smoke cannabis occasionally or on a regular basis.
 
Two of Switzerland’s 26 cantons have introduced a similar sanctioning method to decriminalise hemp and alleviate the administrative workload of police and courts.
 
During Wednesday’s debate opponents, notably among the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and centre-right groups, argued that easing the regulations was tantamount to turning a blind eye to a serious problem and attracting drug dealers from other countries.
 
The other parliamentary chamber, the Senate, is still to discuss the bill.
 
Two previous attempts by the government to introduce a liberal drugs policy failed in parliament over the past two decades.
 
In the 1990s the authorities developed a special policy, including a heroin prescription scheme, which was confirmed in a nationwide ballot in 2008.
 
However, voters threw out a proposal to legalise the possession, consumption and controlled trade in cannabis.

Urs Geiser, swissinfo.ch

 

Most young cannabis smokers give up by 22

A study has shown that only seven per cent of young cannabis smokers maintain their habit beyond 22 years old.  [...]

National

 

Voters agree heroin scheme, but throw out dope

The Swiss look set to approve the government's drugs policy, including the prescription of heroin to addicts, but will reject a plan to decriminalise cannabis.  [...]

 

Cannabis cultivator confounds the authorities

A man who has been on a hunger strike since his imprisonment for growing and trading in cannabis continues to confuse the authorities about how they should react.  [...]

National 8 comments

 

Cannabis dreams drift away

Following decades of rising cannabis use and talk of liberalisation, Switzerland had appeared poised to become the marijuana capital of Europe.  [...]

2 comments

 

Smoke Signals

Despite a ban on smoking in public places, tobacco is still grown in Switzerland.  [...]

Links

• Parliament
• Interior ministry
• Federal Health Office - alcohol, tobacco, drugs