[420 Girl]

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…

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...-nov-30-a.html