Swiss city Bern contemplates breaking barriers. Could a recreational cocaine sales pilot be on the horizon?

This reconsideration of its drug stance comes in light of assorted expert and political views challenging the effectiveness of total prohibitions. Switzerland is currently contemplating a pilot program permitting the sale of cocaine, which is still in its early stages. This thought is an extension of the ongoing endeavors to legalize marijuana sales, as reported by Reuters. The proposal has found support in the Bern parliament, which now must face resistance from city authorities. Rollout of such a program in the capital would necessitate amendments to national law.

"The war on drugs has failed, and we need to explore new ideas," stated Eva Chen, a Bern council member from the Alternative Left and co-proposer of the idea. "Regulation and legalization may yield better results than sheer repression," she added. Worldwide, drug policy is in a state of flux. Many European countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal, no longer impose jail time for drug possession. Conversely, Oregon, an American state, sanctioned the possession of small amounts of cocaine for addiction treatment purposes in 2021.

Evidence of Switzerland's extraordinary cocaine use levels, some of Europe's highest, is manifested in the measurement of illegal drugs and their derivatives present in sewage, as per Reuters. Zurich, Basel, and Geneva rank in the top ten cities in Europe. "In Switzerland currently, there's a copious amount of cocaine at its lowest prices and highest quality that we've ever seen," stated Frank Zobel, Deputy Director of the Addiction Switzerland Center. "A dose of cocaine can be purchased for roughly 10 francs, not much more pricey than a beer," he added.

The Bern Office for Education, Social Affairs and Sport is rendering a report on the proposed pilot program allowing recreational cocaine sales. Nonetheless, Reuters emphasized that this doesn't guarantee its implementation. "Cocaine can pose a life threat to both new and seasoned users. Overdose effects, as well as individual intolerance to even minimal amounts, can lead to death," cautioned the Swiss capital's authorities.

Co-proposer of the project, Eva Chen, asserted that it's premature to predict the pilot program's course. The question of where drugs would be sold and their acquisition method remain Achilles' heels. "We are still a long way off from potential legalization, but we should consider new paradigms," asserted Chen. "Therefore, we urge a scientifically supervised pilot program," she added.