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Swiss: Yes to heroin, No to weed. Oh man…

30 November 2008 Comments

Posted by Sherwin

swiss legalized heroin

Good news for all heroin addicts out there. Now there’s a new place just right for you!

Think of luscious chocolates, elegant watches and scenic Alps. Yes junkies, you got it right! Welcome to Switzerland.

On Sunday, Swiss voters approved a change in health policy that would provide prescription heroin to addicts.

The United States and the U.N. narcotics board have criticized the program as potentially fueling drug abuse, but several other governments have started or are considering their own programs modeled on the system.

According to the Associated Press, 68% of voters supported the plan, making the heroin program permanent. It has been credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts since it began in 1994.

Sorry potheads, but the Swiss appear to have rejected the decriminalization of cannabis.

Olivier Borer, 35, a musician from the northern town of Solothurn, said he welcomed the outcome in part because state action was required to help heroin addicts, but he said legalizing marijuana was a bad idea.

“I think it’s very important to help these people, but not to facilitate the using of drugs,” Borer said.

“You can just see in the Netherlands how it’s going. People just go there to smoke.”

This is how it goes in Geneva:

Patients (addicts) come to clinics each day, where they inject the drug under medical supervision — a safe place to take heroin produced by a government-approved laboratory.

Jo Lang, a Green Party member of parliament, said he was disappointed in the failure of the marijuana measure because it means 600,000 people in Switzerland will be treated as criminals because they use cannabis.

“People have died from alcohol and heroin, but not from cannabis,” Lang said.

God bless Amsterdam!

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  • WTF? How did they work out that Heroin was better to supply to addicts than cannabis?

    That makes as much as sense as a chocolate fire guard in my opinion. Heroin addicts commit so much crime its unreal. And all that to feed their addiction. Sure it's the drug making them do it. But how many stoners rob and steal to fund their habits? No where near as many (Theres always some) . Why? Because they've had a smoke!

    I can almost see it now. Him: "Hey honey, wanna go whack up and do a bit of skiing?" Her: "Sure thing, But where can we do that?" Him"Switzerland of course!"

    I always thought the Swiss were intelligent people, seems i was wrong.............

    Dan
  • Don't get to happy about this, there are some very strict rules if you want a piece of that heroin. I am glad somebody thought about all those heroin addicts struggling in their own misery...
  • Heroin is a highly addictive drug derived from morphine, which is obtained from the opium poppy. It is a "downer" or depressant that affects the brain's pleasure systems and interferes with the brain's ability to perceive pain.
  • CristianStar
    The Swiss may have a good intention, but heroin is not something to joke with. They might have legalized its prescription, but i would like to see what will happen with and if the number of addicts will grow:)) They should think of building more rehabilitation centers.
  • I had a problem with cannabis and it really messed up my mental health, so I don’t think it’s always harmless and I do think it has the potential for addiction in some, even if it’s only the psychological kind. But even I appreciate that not every bodies experience with it is necessarily going to be the same as mine and I certainly don’t think people should be criminalised for it, it’s a matter of public health not criminality.
  • JackNBrown
    One keeps getting the feeling you are walking around a Disneyland Park. The budget traveler should be aware that Zurich is more switzerland clothing expensive than even Disneyland.
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