With 43 votes to 18, the city parliament approved a motion from the Alternative Left to extend trials with cannabis to the future legal sale of cocaine.
Despite recognising that cocaine is a harmful drug, Bern politicians believe that supervised sales could lead to better control of the narcotic, reported SRFExternal link.
The motion met with opposition mainly from right leaning and centre parties, such as the Swiss People’s Party, Radical-Liberal Party, Evangelical Party. They argued that such a decision should be left to the federal government.
However, Franziska Teuscher, Bern’s Director of Education, Social Affairs and Sport, pointed out that: “The government only agreed to the cannabis pilot projects under pressure from the cities.”
Bern’s vote is intended to send a signal to the government and to other cities to consider the idea.
This cocaine sale proposal was narrowly rejected by the Bern parliament in 2019, but a second version featuring more restrictions gathered enough additional support from the leftwing Social Democratic Party to force the motion through on Thursday.
Cannabis sale pilot projects are already underway in Basel, Zurich and Lusanne. Bern is expected to follow suit in autumn 2023 and Biel a few months later.
More
More
Ten years on from Needle Park
This content was published on
The Platzspitz, which had become known as “Needle Park”, attracted hundreds of heroin addicts daily. In the park, users from all over Europe bought their drugs, and injected them openly. Some social workers and doctors treating drug addicts believed the Platzspitz had its advantages – at least addicts were in one specific place where they…
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Free trade remains ‘core’ Swiss value despite Trump tariffs
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter says Switzerland remains committed to free trade despite a new 31% tariff on Swiss exports to the United States.
This content was published on
The new regulation targets plants developed through new breeding technologies that don’t include transgenic genetic material.
WHO faces $1.8 billion budget shortfall amid US withdrawal
This content was published on
The 2026-2027 budget for the Geneva-based organisation has been reduced to $4.2 billion, on top of this year’s $600 million shortfall.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Study finds cocaine popular among drivers in Switzerland
This content was published on
More than one in ten people get behind the wheel of a vehicle in Switzerland while under the influence of dangerous substances, according to a new study.
Half a tonne of cocaine seized at Swiss Nespresso factory
This content was published on
Swiss police have seized over 500 kg of cocaine hidden in a container shipped from Brazil to a Nespresso factory in western Switzerland.
This content was published on
The “Needle Park” in Zurich was an open drugs scene in the 1980s and early 90s when heroin users could freely inject the drug without being arrested.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.