SWISS SAY NO TO DRUGS
The Swiss Parliament has defeated legislation to weaken the laws against illicit drugs.
The legislation proposed to depenalise the consumption, production, trading and petty trafficking in cannabis.
It proposed to limit the prosecution of other drugs, delete heroin off the list of prohibited substances and promote injecting rooms.
The Members of Parliament were provided with new scientific studies that stressed the dangers of cannabis.
About half a million Swiss use cannabis.
(Source: Dreifuss-Couchpin Bill)
A committee of the European Union has recommended that respective governments move to censor or criminalise Internet sites that provide information on cultivation or promotion of cannabis.
The European Union concerns were the rising popularity, increasing potency, proven health risks and criminal involvement in cannabis.
The European Union is promoting more cooperation against trafficking, reducing illicit drug use, drug free prisons, alternative crops and more research.
Up to 40 million people in the European Union use cannabis.
(Source: European Union Horizontal Drug Group resolution 6 July 2004)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
The parliamentary “Road To Recovery” report disclosed that 73 percent of men and 80 per cent of women disapprove of the use of cannabis.
Cannabis is known to cause cancer, mental illness and impair the immune system.
Australia must reduce the number of current illicit drug users.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
29/2004