Bern's City Council Approves Controlled Cocaine Sale Proposal Amid Federal Hurdles
Bern's city council has approved a proposal for controlled cocaine sales, but federal approval is still required before implementation
Key Points
- 1Bern approves controlled cocaine sale proposal
- 2Federal approval needed for implementation
- 3Proposal follows Bern's legal cannabis sales pilot
- 4High cocaine use in Switzerland influences policy
- 5Proposal aims to explore new drug regulation models
The city council of Bern, Switzerland, has taken a significant step by approving a proposal to test the controlled sale of cocaine. With a vote of 43 to 18, the proposal now awaits federal approval before it can be implemented. This move follows Bern's previous pioneering efforts in legalizing cannabis sales, which were part of a pilot study to explore the effects of legal cannabis on society
The proposal for cocaine sales was introduced by the Left Alternative party, facing opposition from center-right and religious council members. Despite this, the initiative found support from the left-wing, including the Social Democratic Party. This development highlights a growing interest in exploring new drug policy models in Switzerland, driven by the country's high cocaine consumption rates
In 2022, Bern became a trailblazer in Europe by launching a legal cannabis sale project, which is part of the SCRIPT study conducted by the University of Bern. This study aims to assess the societal impacts of legal cannabis. While the federal government recently approved this cannabis pilot project, the prospect of legal cocaine sales faces a more uncertain future
Franziska Teuscher, Bern's director of education, social affairs, and sports, noted that the federal approval of cannabis projects came under pressure from various cities. She emphasized that the new cocaine proposal is intended to signal to other cities the potential for regulatory change. This reflects a broader conversation about drug policies in Switzerland, where cocaine use remains among the highest in Europe
Andre Gomes from Release commented on the proposal's significance, noting Europe's central role in global cocaine demand. He highlighted the need for reforming the global supply chain to ensure safer cocaine industry practices. While the details of the proposal's implementation are still unclear, the move underscores the potential for innovative drug regulation models in Europe