Pubdate: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2001 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: 401 N. Wabash, Chicago IL 60611 Feedback: http://www.suntimes.com/geninfo/feedback.html Website: http://www.suntimes.com/ GOVERNMENT BACKS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA BERNE, SWITZERLAND The Swiss government has endorsed a draft law that would legalize the consumption of marijuana and hashish and allow a limited number of "dope shops." The bill, submitted to the parliament Friday, seeks to bring Swiss law into line with the reality that one in four Swiss age 15 to 24 regularly gets high, according to a poll commissioned last month by the Swiss government. "Decriminalizing the consumption of cannabis and the acts leading up to this takes account of social reality and unburdens police and the courts," the government said in a statement. The Cabinet agreed in principle in October to legalize dope smoking. It has now recommended that police be allowed to turn a blind eye to people growing and trading small amounts of soft drugs, arguing this will make it easier to differentiate between small- and large-scale dealing. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart