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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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Swiss Legalize Heroin Injections

But reject marijuana decriminalization

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(Newser) – Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a safe-injection program for heroin addicts today, BBC reports. The referendum, backed by 68% of voters, makes permanent a 14-year-old Swiss program that allows doctors to shoot up heroin users while attending to their medical and mental health needs. Switzerland will be the first nation to make such a program official policy.

Voters also rejected a plan to legalize marijuana, with only 37% supporting looser pot laws. Opponents of decriminalization feared it would lead to tensions with neighboring countries and attract too many dope-smoking tourists, the AP reports. “I think it's very important to help these people, but not to facilitate the using of drugs,” said a voter who supports safe-injection sites but opposes legalized weed. 

Swiss voters have approved a nationwide safe-injection site program for heroin addicts.
Swiss voters have approved a nationwide safe-injection site program for heroin addicts.   (Shutterstock)
A placard showing a couple saying
A placard showing a couple saying "Yes, thanks to the treatment our son could get out of drugs" is among others on display in Geneva.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Supporters credit the Swiss supervised-injection scheme with lowering drug-crime rates.
Supporters credit the Swiss supervised-injection scheme with lowering drug-crime rates.   (Shutterstock)
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This could lead to a situation where you have some sort of cannabis tourism in Switzerland because something that is illegal in the EU would be legal in Switzerland. - government spokesman Oswald Sigg on marijuana decriminalization

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Dec 4, 08 8:45 PM CST
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