Pubdate: Sun, 11 Mar 2001
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2001 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  401 N. Wabash, Chicago IL 60611
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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.
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