Pubdate: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 Source: New York Times (NY) Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Copyright: 1998 The New York Times Company Author: Elizabeth Olson SWISS VOTERS REJECT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, HEROIN AND COCAINE GENEVA -- Swiss voters on Sunday decisively defeated a radical measure to legalize marijuana as well as heroin and cocaine, turning aside arguments that a government-managed narcotics network would curb drug-related crime. The proposal would have turned Switzerland into a virtual free-drugs zone, with any resident over 18 years old able to buy narcotics at state-approved pharmacies, after consulting a doctor. Nearly 74 percent of voters rejected the initiative, which had been expected to fail, but not to such an overwhelming extent. "It was a surprise," said Francois Reusser, spokesman for the committee that launched the initiative "for a sensible drug policy." "Voters reacted emotionally to the heroin aspect," he said. However, Reusser said he hoped lawmakers would still consider liberalizing the use and possession of cannabis, which federal statistics indicate is regularly consumed by some 500,000 people in Switzerland, a nation of 7 million. He said the committee, backed by Socialists, medical doctors, lawyers and drug experts, would consider a new campaign to collect the signatures necessary to force a ballot vote on legalizing cannabis. Government officials said the vote confirmed Switzerland's policy of battling illicit drugs, but also aiding the worst-off drug addicts through a program that gives heroin and methadone to a controlled group of abusers. The Alpine nation has an estimated 30,000 to 36,000 hard drug addicts, one of the highest rates in Europe. Thomas Zeltner, chief of the federal health department, said Switzerland was ready to review policies on soft drugs such as marijuana and hashish. The government is proposing new laws on drugs be drawn up next year. - --- Checked-by: Richard Lake