Swiss stub out cannabis decriminalisation bid

[nimue77]

GENEVA (AFP) — Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis by a clear majority in a nationwide referendum, Swiss news agency ATS reported.
Switzerland is the heaviest user of cannabis in Europe according to a recent study but the proposal to decriminalise the drug failed to win popular support in the majority of cantons, ATS said.
In anticipation of a “no” vote, the Pro Juventute youth group along with the Federation of Swiss Youth Clubs and teachers unions has called for a fresh approach to young cannabis users, the NZZ am Sonntag weekly newspaper reported.
“We should remember that the current regime in force has hardly dissuaded young people from using cannabis; the popularity of this drug rose constantly during the 1990s and has only recently seen a slight dip,” Pro Juventute said in a statement.
Instead of criminal proceedings, people under 18 caught using cannabis would face fines and also drug prevention treatment and counselling, the paper said.
Swiss teenagers are increasingly using hard drugs such as amphetamines, speed, cocaine, magic mushrooms and LSD, according to a study carried out in July by the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (ISPA).
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This is surprising to me since I thought it was essentially legal there. It is my understanding that one can go into a certain type of shop and buy it.
Does this really matter?

 

[RobFunk]

And Amersterdam is closing 20% of it's 'coffee shops' (thats such a cute code word.)

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081120-marijuana-dutch

 

[BillyWaltersJr+]

GENEVA (AFP) — Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis by a clear majority in a nationwide referendum, Swiss news agency ATS reported.
Switzerland is the heaviest user of cannabis in Europe according to a recent study but the proposal to decriminalise the drug failed to win popular support in the majority of cantons, ATS said.
In anticipation of a “no” vote, the Pro Juventute youth group along with the Federation of Swiss Youth Clubs and teachers unions has called for a fresh approach to young cannabis users, the NZZ am Sonntag weekly newspaper reported.
“We should remember that the current regime in force has hardly dissuaded young people from using cannabis; the popularity of this drug rose constantly during the 1990s and has only recently seen a slight dip,” Pro Juventute said in a statement.
Instead of criminal proceedings, people under 18 caught using cannabis would face fines and also drug prevention treatment and counselling, the paper said.
Swiss teenagers are increasingly using hard drugs such as amphetamines, speed, cocaine, magic mushrooms and LSD, according to a study carried out in July by the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (ISPA).
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This is surprising to me since I thought it was essentially legal there. It is my understanding that one can go into a certain type of shop and buy it.
Does this really matter?

I think you are thinking of Amsterdam and the coffee shops that they have.

 

[nimue77]

I think you are thinking of Amsterdam and the coffee shops that they have.

Nope. I know someone who traveled there and bought it in shops....pretty sure they said something about special stores and they sell it in a pillow or something and it's not tacitly legal but it's allowed. I've been to Amsterdam.

 

[nimue77]

Yup...

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]With an estimated half-million Swiss smoking cannabis, the herb is currently available under a variety of transparent guises, such as cannabis "potpourri" or aromatic cannabis pillows filled with kind bud. The assumption is that most pillow purchasers are smoking the contents rather than resting their heads on them.[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[barman]

And Amersterdam is closing 20% of it's 'coffee shops' (thats such a cute code word.)

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081120-marijuana-dutch

The Dutch are simply conducting a bit more regulation than in years past by ordering shops within certain distance of schools to cease operations. My contacts in Amsterdam tell me this will simply result in some shuffling with regard to operators relocating to a suitable distance and then reopening for business as usual

 

[barman]

I share NIMUE's surprise that a decrim bill did not pass the vote, but we must all never underestimate the strong covert influence of current dealers who enjoy some pretty nice profit margins which would be greatly reduced if Swiss citizens could legally cultivate and more freely market their own product.

Cannabis is not particularly harder to grow than any other form of vegetable or fruit produce and as such - in an open and legal market - would likely only command $10-20 a pound.

 

[fletchisrhsm]

Cannabis is not particularly harder to grow than any other form of vegetable or fruit produce and as such - in an open and legal market - would likely only command $10-20 a pound.

:smoking:

 

[barman]

to Fletch....heh

Fun Fact - My friends in California and Oregon who legally cultivate high grade marijuana (under medical marijuana law guidelines) tell me that the bottom line $$ outgo to produce a pound of good dro is about $25-30

It would be less if they could produce in larger quantities.