Switzerland approves heroin use

Jakarta News.Net
Sunday 30th November, 2008

Heroin users will be able to inject freely in Switzerland after a weekend vote on the issue.

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly approved the move to give addicts government-authorized heroin.

At the same time, voters rejected a proposal to decriminalize marijuana.

A heroin program has been running in Switzerland since 1994 and the vote will simply make it permanent.

The heroin program is offered in centres across Switzerland which offer a range of support to nearly 1,300 addicts.

While the heroin program has been credited with reducing crime and improving the health of addicts, some 63.2 percent of voters decided against the marijuana initiative, concerned that liberalizing the drug could lead to cannabis tourism.

Parliament had already approved the heroin measure in a revision of Switzerland's narcotics law in March, but conservatives were unhappy with the decision, forcing a national referendum.

The United States has criticized the program as having the potential to fuel drug abuse.

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