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Article: The people have spoken: Swiss voters upheld the legalisation of heroin for long-term addicts in a November referendum, but rejected a proposal that would have decriminalised the use of marijuana. Reporter Tom Armitage presents the details surrounding this, and other prominent referendum package decisions.(POLITICS)
- Article from:
- Swiss News
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
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This seemingly mixed message on drug use was in fact expected of the sovereign Swiss, who have shown a progressive attitude to supervised drug distribution in the past. Just 37 per cent of Swiss voters voiced support for the cannabis legalisation plan, while a resounding 68 per cent of Swiss backed the heroin programme.
The vote in favour of making current heroin therapy legal may also point the way forward for other European countries seeking a way to support addicts, reduce crime and cut the spread of diseases from sharing infected needles.
The vote, held on November 30, did bring one surprise, however: a motion to suspend the statute of limitations on ...