Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
That would bring Switzerland in line with most of its Western European neighbors, which tolerate small-time marijuana possession. The move comes four years after voters rejected outright legalization in a popular referendum.
Switzerland has an estimated 500,000 pot smokers, with 10% of people in their teens and twenties saying they are consumers, one of the highest figures in the world. Currently, punishment for small-time possession varies from canton to canton, with some having already virtually decriminalized it with a small fine, while in others, violators face criminal penalties. Swiss courts handle 30,000 marijuana possession cases a year.
Preliminary parliamentary approval came over the opposition of conservatives in the Swiss People's Party and some members of center-right parties. People's Party legislator Thomas de Courten unsuccessfully sought to double the proposed $108 fine and warned that decriminalization was "giving the wrong message" to young consumers.
"The very mention of the word cannabis seems to trigger psychotropic effects among some members of this chamber," retorted Yvonne Gilli of the Green Party.
The proposal was pushed by the Christian Democratic Party, one of the five parties that make up Switzerland's governing coalition, but government officials seem decidedly lukewarm about it. The cabinet supports the bill, but "without enthusiasm," Interior Minister Alain Berset said.
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Comments
Who cares about enthusiasm?!
I wouldn't give two fucks about "enthusiasm" if they decriminalize it <insert my eu country>, all I want is to stop being force to lie at work, to the government and everyone around me about my use!
just say no to dogmas!
did u read the article closely, anonymousxxx? decrim doesn't mean no penalties. there's still a fine proposed of $108. that's enough to make most think twice about being completely open about their use. they still have something to lose. as long as so many in government and outside of it buy into the propaganda that 'drugs' (some, anyway, the ones derived from nature, not subject to patent and profit by corporations) are bad, we're screwed. the problem isn't 'drugs', it's dogmas! just say no to dogmas! the whole damned 'war on drugs' is based on dogmatic ignorance.
Its not just about the
Its not just about the smoking and the buzz. Its also about how this product could be used in so many ways. Its also about the control of the population but mostly about who has that control..... and that would be big businesses such as pharmaceuticals, textiles etc.
Hemp itself, should have never been made illegal and its initial test to prove its harmfulness to humans, is obviously floored to say the least. It actually shows the lengths they would go to, to get the results they want and that the governmental and business scientists are controlled and untrustworthy.
The decriminalization of
The decriminalization of marijuana possession is a step in the right direction because it removes prison from the options and as a primary source of income for the prison industry,,one of the major lobbyist that buys prohibition from our elected politicians,,remove that source of income and they will lose interest in keeping marijuana prohibited.
Same with US politicians
"The very mention of the word cannabis seems to trigger psychotropic effects among some members of this chamber," retorted Yvonne Gilli of the Green Party.
Well, Yvonne, it's the same here in the US. We can't get most politicians to discuss the topic without going off the deep end. They are so far behind the populace and science and common sense and...
"The very mention of the word
"The very mention of the word cannabis seems to trigger psychotropic effects among some members of this chamber,"
Hate to tell you this Yvonne, but the same thing happened with the U.S. alcohol prohibition when it was ready to be repealed. When the time comes...it comes.
DRUG WAR
Tom Tancredo, former Republican congressman, who backs legal ganja; stated, "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."
DRUG WAR
Tom Tancredo, former Republican congressman, who backs legal ganja; stated, "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."
DRUG WAR
Tom Tancredo, former Republican congressman, backs legal ganja. He stated, "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."
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