The Swiss government should legalize the sale and use of marijuana, a federally appointed panel urged last week. Their recommendation responds to a government inquiry to revise the country’s drug laws.
The federal commission proposed licensing marijuana sales to Swiss adults. The plan also would prohibit sellers from advertising the drug, and allow the state to regulate marijuana’s market value.
Panelists made their recommendation after determining that marijuana posed little danger as a gateway drug and negligible health risks compared to legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. The experts also acknowledged that marijuana prohibition failed to discourage widespread use of the drug.
The Associated Press reported that Swiss Cabinet officials will likely reject the recommendation, but did not rule out the measure’s eventual passage in a national referendum.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.