Swiss to legalize cannabis 30. nov 2008

[9Lives]

cross partisan wow..congrats to the Swiss..ALL your future politicians are assholes too

Well..let's see how it goes. Much respect that you are even considering..


From the article: ''dream of a drug-free society'' i could have not said it better...that is all it is..

 

[guest]

That news is dated 10/27. The vote is today.

Anyone have any updates?

 

[esbe]

its 29 nov here in europe. i in 24 hours i think we have a good exit pole

 

[guest]

its 29 nov here in europe. i in 24 hours i think we have a good exit pole

Thank you very very much!!

It's 30 Nov. here in the states right now. 10:56AM.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Dewd...it is Nov 29th today

 

[guest]

DOUOGH!!!!

 

[hoosierdaddy]

lol...it's all good, nut.
See, ya got another day back!

 

[neuroherb]

It's 30 Nov. here in the states right now. 10:56AM.

ROFL PeanutButter you got the world spinning the other way round, I want some of the bud your smoking.

It would be great to see this go through but even if it doesn I reckon there will still be dificulties in implementing it given international treaties the Swiss government is a signatory to.

All eyes on tomorow evening then


Switzerland is connected to the EU through several bi-lateral agreements after referendums stopped there progress in joining the EU or fully commiting to the European Economic Area which they were one of the parties to negotiate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_and_the_European_Union

 

[esbe]

well, today is today and its nov 30 here in europe, election day. cant be true that not a single swiss guy can update us here??

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/search/Result.html?siteSect=882&ty=st&sid=10032357

Swiss have final say on drugs and pension Yes or No? That is the question voters are answering Image caption: Yes or No?

The Swiss have cast their votes on the government's drugs policy, including the prescription of heroin to addicts, and a proposal to decriminalise cannabis. Also on the agenda were plans aimed at easing early retirement, tougher legal provisions against paedophiles and moves to curb the powers of environmental organisations. Polls closed at midday and results are expected shortly. Of the five issues at stake only the vote on enshrining the government's four-pillar drugs policy has a realistic chance of winning the necessary majority, experts say. The official drugs strategy is based on prevention, harm reduction, therapy and repression. It was devised in response to the open drugs scene in Zurich and other Swiss cities during the 1990s. Supporters, including a majority in parliament and many drugs experts, say the policy has helped reduce the number of drug-related deaths. They argue the prescription of heroin under medical supervision allows addicts to live a more normal life and even integrate into society. There are about 3,000 registered addicts who benefit from the heroin distribution programme - some of whom later switch to a methadone-supported treatment. Switzerland was a pioneer in 1999 when it introduced the scheme - restricted initially to a ten-year period. But opponents, notably in the small ultra-conservative Federal Democratic Union and the rightwing Swiss People's Party, challenged parliament's decision to a referendum. They say the official policy has failed to reduce the number of addicts and leaves them in dependency, instead of promoting abstinence-based methods. « Switzerland was a pioneer when it introduced the heroin programme. » Dope A separate plan, supported by centre-left and some centre-right parliamentarians, seeks to decriminalise hallucinogenic hemp for personal consumption, while trade and cultivation would be subject to state control in an effort to limit access for minors. "Bans are the worst form of health prevention," said Christian-Nils Robert, professor of law at Geneva University. The initiative was launched in the wake of parliament's refusal in 2004 to adapt legislation to widespread practice. An estimated 500,000 people in Switzerland say they regularly or occasionally smoke dope. Opponents warn of the health hazards for cannabis consumers and fear Switzerland would attract hemp consumers from across Europe. Ten years ago Swiss voters rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis. What's this?What's this? * Old age insurance Pensions Trade union plans to introduce a flexible retirement from age 62 are the latest attempt to reform the state pension scheme. The scheme has also been under review by parliament as it tries to secure the long-term funding of the social security system. The unions, backed by the centre-left Social Democrats and the Greens, want to allow people who earn less than SFr120,000 ($99,700) annually to stop working with no loss of benefits. "A flexible retirement age must no longer be the privilege of high income earners," said the Trade Union Federation. At present it is mainly the well-off who take early retirement. The construction industry has also introduced a scheme for employees from age 60. Men officially retire at 65, while women are eligible for a pension at 64 in Switzerland. The campaign focused on the costs of the reform with opponents pointing out the risks of the pension system getting out of sync because of the ageing population. Crime and planning At stake on Sunday is an initiative by a group of parents aimed at extending indefinitely the statute of limitations for paedophile crimes. Supporters say sexual abuse of minors is often underestimated by the public. The government and most political parties – except the Swiss People's Party – have come out against the scrapping of the time limit. They argue it is disproportional and would be difficult to implement. Currently a person suspected of a paedophile crime can be prosecuted for up to 15 years, or until the victim turns 25. Parliament agreed a compromise to extend the time frame to the age of 33. Finally, voters will also decide on a plan by the centre-right Radical Party to curb the powers of environmental groups in major building projects. The initiative pits the interests of business against those of environmentalists. It was launched in the wake of a legal battle over the construction of a new football stadium in Zurich four years ago.

 

[9Lives]

grr update update update...

 

[neuroherb]

LOL esbe and when I woke up I thought today was still yesterday .

Hopefully we will start seeing an update by 9 - 10 pm Central European Time once the poles have closed. Will do some searching on the news sites then.

 

[neuroherb]

Here is the initative website but its only available in German, French or Italian

http://www.hanfinitiative.ch/index.html

 

[spicecowboy]

Sad News

Sad News

According to the latest projection, 66% voted against the "Hanf Initiative".

This means that Cannabis will not be decriminalized in Switzerland,- at least not today.

This is really disappointing, but on the other hand... not a big surprise.

 

[Hardy]

According to the latest projection, 66% voted against the "Hanf Initiative".

This means that Cannabis will not be decriminalized in Switzerland,- at least not today.

This is really disappointing, but on the other hand... not a big surprise.

Yup it was rejected. Google translation of the frontpage from your link:

The people have spoken:

The hemp initiative is, unfortunately, been rejected but it has a respectable YES-consumption can share.

Thank you very much!

We would like to warmly thank all those people, who with her commitment, her confidence, her voice the Hanfinitiative support.

They have their affirmative vote expresses that the problem must be addressed.

Unfortunately, it is not managed at the level of the proposed initiative model for dealing effectively regulated to communicate. The hemp issue remains unresolved, and from a technical point of view totally unsatisfactory. The legal uncertainty continues and instruments suitable for minors missing.

It is now feasible ways and approaches to legislative level, because the problem must be solved.

We would be pleased if you take this route in the future we go!

Yours sincerely

Swiss Hemp Coordination CSC / SHK

edit: I meant neuroherb's link.

 

[esbe]

so sad to hear, keep it up swiss peace and cannabis loving ppl! 66% voted negative, does this mean that 44% was positive?

 

[guest]

Yes to heroin and no to marijuana.

What a world!

Very sad

 

[trichomefarmer]

Extremely sad day. a 65 to 35 no means very bad things for cannabis growers and smokers in switzerland.

This is a huge loss and can only mean more crackdowns are coming.

well there are at least a million total idiots or assholes, living in Switzerland.

Volksinitiative: Für eine vernünftige Hanf-Politik mit wirksamem Jugendschutz
Hochrechnung von 16:00 Uhr
Ja Nein
35.0 % 65.0 %

Zwischenresultat: 23 von 26 Kantonen ausgezählt
Ausgezählte Volksstimmen
Ja Nein
598'544 35.7 % 1'077'267 64.3 % <----
Ausgezählte Standesstimmen
Ja Nein
0 20.5
Tabelle Resultate nach Kantonen

 

[SpacedCWBY]

from the ap

What is really sad is that they approved herion clinics but not pot. But look at the reason... They don'y want the drug tourism. Simple solution - The whole world needs to decrim. All at once. But that would make sense.

 

[neuroherb]

At first sight this may look like a set back, but the first time a cannabis user is prosecuted after a herion user is given medicianal herion will leave the court room door open for discrimination cases.

I doubt this will be the end of it.

Thanks for the translation Hardy.


Edit:
BTW although never been to Switzerland it is reputed to have many legal contradictions. One noted by JC of Top Gear fame was that you have to switch a car engine off when sitting at a red light although police never looked twice at the semi automatic weapon sitting on the passenger seat.

I can see how the swiss would have thought cannabis tourism to be unpopular.

 

[kabulbaba]

Das ist einfach Scheisse,scheisse,scheisse,scheisse.