Swisster – Society – Backing grows in Bern for marijuana decriminalization
Four federal parties rally in support of an initiative to replace a ban on cannabis use for adults, while strictly enforcing its prohibition for those under 18. Swiss voters are set to vote on the issue, rejected by parliament four years ago, in a November referendum.A coalition of federal Swiss political parties of various stripes has renewed a bid to decriminalize marijuana in the country. Elected members of the Radical, Christian Democrat, Socialist and Green parties on Friday endorsed an initiative that would regulate cannabis use while making it illegal for children under the of 18.
The initiative is scheduled to be voted on by Swiss voters on Nov. 30. The parties have urged people to say yes to the proposal. Members in Bern said the initiative offers a “reasonable policy” governing the use of marijuana that is preferable to the current prohibition.
They noted that the proposal effectively protects young people by banning it for those underage. However the group maintains that for adults smoking a joint is a personal choice over which each person can make their own decision.
Marijuana officially remains a banned drug in Switzerland though possession in small quantities for personal use is tolerated in many [states]. The politicians calling for changes to the law say the current prohibition has failed to cut use. Christa Markwalder, Radical member of parliament from Bern, said an estimated 500,000 people in Switzerland are regular or occasional users of cannabis. The more than 27,500 complaints lodged annually with police (based on 2005 figures) have only served to needlessly overload the police and judicial systems, Markwalder indicated.
As European travel guru Rick Steves is fond of saying, “In America, we get two choices: ‘hard on drugs’ or ‘soft on drugs’. In Europe they’ve found a third way: ‘smart on drugs’.” I’m really hoping that the Swiss vote to recognize their adult citizens right to smoke pot. Then maybe they’ll put a poker and a loupe on that Army Knife of theirs…
Loading ...
Yes, Peter, the Swiss voted to maintain legal heroin for addicts, but voted against decriminalization of cannabis. It’s on the web… right here! http://stash.norml.org/swiss-legalize-heroin-but-wont-decriminalize-cannabis/
Does anyone know how the election turned out? I cant find anything on the web, thx.
Election party for the Swiss “Hanf-Initiative”
At 30th Novembre 2008 from 4pm till 8pm (CET): Election party for the Swiss “Hanf-Initiative”.
Live report from the Hemp Museum Berlin on aspects of the national voting in switzerland. Tune in – it will be interesting! You can also visit us at Hanf Museum Berlin, Mühlendamm 5, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
DJ at the evening will be Koshka with Minimal and Neotrance. We welcome in the discussion round: Hans Cousto, which will inform us about the voting system in switzerland. Moderation is done by Rolf Ebbinghaus from Hemp Museum.
At 6pm (CET) there will be the first election results available, so we will talk about.
More Information on the Swiss Hemp Initiative Website at http://www.hanf-initiative.ch/.
Fast Press: 20min also on Google News
In Cooperation with: Hanf Museum Berlin and UZIC electronic music webradio.
http://radio.hanfplantage.de
and
http://www.uzic.ch/
Die schweizer Eidgenossen, die hier vorbeikommen und noch etwas unschlüssig sind über die Hanf-Initiative, über die es am Wochenende des 30. November 2008 abzustimmen gilt, kann die Arena Sendung vom 21.11.2008 an das Herz gelegt werden:
* Videodownload: Soll kiffen legal werden, wie es die Hanf-Initiative fordert? Mehrere hunderttausend Schweizerinnen und Schweizer rauchen regelmässig Cannabis. Macht ein Verbot noch Sinn?(MPEG4 Video)
http://podcastsource.sf.tv/media/sf/podcast/arena/2008/11/arena_20081121_223047_526k.m4v
[...] News Hawk: User: http://www.420magazine.com/ Source: NORML Copyright: 2008 NORML Contact: Contact Us – NORML Website: Switzerland to vote on national cannabis decrim initiative [...]
[...] Source: NORML Copyright: 2008 NORML Contact: Contact Us – NORML Website: Switzerland to vote on national cannabis decrim initiative __________________ 420 Magazine News Team Creating Cannabis Awareness Since 1993 [...]
[...] http://stash.norml.org/2008/07/14/switzerland-to-vote-on-national-cannabis-decrim-initiative/ Posted by Cinekadens Filed in [...]