The capital of Switzerland is considering launching a pilot program to test the legal sale of cocaine for recreational use in a never-before-done attempt to make the country’s rampant use of the drug safer.
Bern’s parliament supports the pilot program but the legislation will still need to overcome opposition from the city and requires a change of federal law to become a reality.
The proposal comes as more and more countries and US states are changing their approach to the so-called “war on drugs” with policies including decriminalization and legal recreational use of marijuana.
Supporters argue that legalization allows for greater control over the market and safer usage if people use the drugs illegally anyway.
“The war on drugs has failed, and we have to look at new ideas,” said Eva Chen, a Bern council member from the Alternative Left Party who co-sponsored the proposal.
