Spreading

The spreading, the strength of the movement and the arguments

The drug question is debated in various ways in different connections. The drug liberal ideas have varying impact in the different countries. Certain West European countries are "setting the tone", and are therefore more important than the others in their influence on the development in the rest of Europe.

This survey on the common West European support of the drug liberal arguments and the legalizing proposals, must of a neccessity be quite general.

It starts with the EU and the different EU bodies. Then follows a discussion of the situation in each country.

The organized legalizing movement is portrayed in a separate chapter.

EU

The EU Parliament
1986

The EU Parliament has discussed the drug problem several times. The first time the question was thoroughly debated, was in the middle of the eighties. At that time several surveys on the drug situation and the drug policy in the EC countries was implemented, the initiative coming from the EC Parliament. The committee preparing the question, was presided by the conservative British politician Jack Stewart-Clarke. The committee suggested a row of measures, consisting of increased efforts generally, an increase of preventive measures, increased cooperation etc.

The committee was split in the question of legalizing. A minority proposed legalizing of cannabis.

When the Parliament debated the question in the spring 1986, the proposition on legalizing only got a handful of votes. (1)

1992

In May 1992 the EC Parliament debated several drug political propositions from different Parliament committies.

One of the propositions came from the Committee on Drugs Trafficking, and was very drug liberal. The Briton Bowe presided the commitee, the Italian Marco Taradash was Wice President, and the Irishman Pat Cooney was secretary.

The committee proposed for instance:

- Legalizing of cannabis (hashish and marihuana)

- Decriminalizing of small amounts of any drug for personal use

- A major concentration on Legal Prescription Programmes

The proposition fell with 135 votes against 112. (2)

1993-94

On Febrary 24th., 1994, a new drug policy proposition was finally debated in the EU Parliament.

The proposition was formulated by the Italian Marco Taradesh. He was appointed by the EU Parliament Committee on Human Rights, as sole official in charge of the question of drug legalizing.

The appointment of Taradash as sole official in charge must be termed sensational. Taradash is Secretary General in the International Antiprohibitionist League, and is jugded to be one of the leading lobbyists for legalizing of drugs.

The Committee proposition, built on Taradesh's proposition, was in form of a resolution that had to be approved by the Parliament. The majority of the Committee was behind the proposition.

The resolution proposed among other measures:

- Decriminalizing of small amounts of drugs of all kinds including heroin and cocaine), when intended only for personal use

- Concentration on promotioning the experience gained from the Legal Prescription Programmes in Liverpool, Amsterdam and Frankfurt

- An extensive international conference on drug policy, arranged by the EU Parliament before june 1995, with the aim to debate the alternatives to crate a legal trade market for drugs

- Reevaluation of the UN Drug Conventions of 1961 and 1988

The voting was very obscure. In three different votings the drug liberal proposition was put up against a more restrictive one. In the final voting, the drug liberal proposition fell, with 117 votes against, and 111 for. 21 members refrained from voting.

More propositions.

Not only the Committee Proposition was treated in the EU Parliament on the 24th. of February 1994. There were also other law propositions. The most extreme came from Marco Panella, leader of the Radical Party in Italy. Panella put forward a proposition to legalize all kinds of drugs.

Another law proposition came from a group of seven representatives of the EU Parliament, with Marco Taradesh as the leader. All seven were from South Europe, and represented different parties. They proposed to establish "a legal market for coca and coca derivatives". The formulation of the proposition is a deliberate attempt to hide the fact that this include cocaine, which is a coca derivative.

The seven got oral support from a handful of left wing Parliament members, the radicals and The Green Ones. The support was, however, not so extensive that the question was taken up for a voting.

Almost half of the members are drug liberals

From the votings in May 1992 and February 1994, one can easily see that almost half the members of the EU Parliament are drug liberals. If such propositions were put before the Norwegian Parliament or the Swedish, it would probably not get a single vote. This illustrate the incredible difference between Norwegian and Swedish politicians, and the politicians in the EU Parliament.

They will try again

Marco Taradesh was very indignant about the result of the voting on the 24th. of February 1994. He immediately stated that "...the prohibition policy is a failiure, no matter what the politicians in the EU Parliament say. Time will show that the antiprohibitionist way is the right way to go. We must therefore make sure that the question of a new drug policy is put on the agenda again, as soon as the Parliament is gathered this autumn."

The uncertainty about the EU Parliament's view on the drug question is in other words as great as before.

C E L A D

Prior to the Maastricht Agreement the drug question was not a part of the EC legislation. This meant that cooperation on drug issues could not be implemented in an EC frame. In it's place there was a voluntary, =interstate= cooperation. In this any one of the EC countries could lay down veto, and refrain from taking part in the cooperation.

To support this cooperation, the body CELAD was established, an abbreviation of the French expression Committé Europeenne la Lutte Anti Drouges. CELAD took care of common reports, and preparations for a future development, and it coordinated the preparations and the implementation of the so called Drugs Prevention Week.

"European Plan to Combat Drugs"

CELAD issued a drug policy programme called "European Plan to Combat Drugs". Here are very few signs of drug liberalism, sooner the opposite, a strong declaration in true "War on Drugs" spirit. Not only in name is this plan waging war against drugs, but its content mirrors a repressive, rather than restrictive, attitude.

But since the plan is of a general order, and since the countries are not committed by it, it is more a "wishing plan" than a reality.

Difference between theory and practice

The superstructure is far from drug liberal.

Many of the ones who are doing the practical work, however, is of a different understanding. Quite commonly the civil servants working in CELAD and in the delegations from the different countries, express that they privately are postitive both to decriminalizing and legalizing. (4 and 5)

Drugs Unit

Directely under the General Secretary of the EU, is a body called "Drugs Unit" (DU). It is presided by the General Secretary himself. In the periode before the Maastricht Agreement Drugs Unit was making reports, and had coordinating tasks. After the Maastricht Agreement these tasks are continued. The difference is that now the drug issue is mentioned in the Agreement, and is therefore a part of the EU cooperation.

Drugs Unit has been important in the developing of European Drugs Monitoring (EDM), Europol, and in arranging Drugs Prevention Week etc.

But also within Drugs Unit one can see the difference between the superstructure and the attitude of the civil servants who are working on the matters. The superstructure indicates a clearly restrictive, almost repressive attitude. Among the civil servants who are working with the implementation of the different measures, one can often find a very drug liberal attitude. This is reflected in what activities they choose to support economically, the results of practical projects and what is expressed in the printed material produced by DU. (6)

Drugs Monitoring Centre

European Drugs Monitoring Centre (EDMC) is a body, directely underlying the EU Commission. EDMC has its secretariat in Lisbon, and is going to be an important coordinating body for information and research on drugs within the EU.

The general political guidelines of EDMC are characterized by a common restrictive attitude. But even at the EDMC one can easily see the difference between the theorethical superstructure and the practical implementation.

The coordinator of EDMC, Hilde van Lindt, has declared in interviews that she is for legalizing of cannabis, for decriminalizing of other drugs in small quantities for personal use, and for concentration on Legal Prescribing Programmes, including maintenance doses.

Her attitude shows in the practical work of EDMC. The organization has sponsored a lot of drug liberal congresses, supported drug liberal research projects and drug liberal organizations, the production of different drug liberal information material etc.

See also Drugs Prevention Week. (7)

Drugs Prevention Week

In the autumn 1992 there was implemented a broad information campaign on drugs in all EU countries. It was organised by Drugs Unit in cooperation with Drugs Monitoring Centre. Several drug conferences were held, on a high level, in several EU countries. The message was quite repressive, in line with CELAD's European Plan to Combat Drugs. The conservative british Vice President of the EU Parliament, Jack Stewart-Clarke, was one of the lecturers on the biggest conference in Britain. But on the sub-arrangements under Drug Prevention Week, very often drug liberal messages were issued.

Again we can see the discrepancy between the superstructure and the actual work of these bodies.

The drug liberal attitude was presented on many conferences and seminars, through information material in large quantities and via the direct information aimed at the teenagers in all the countries. (8)

Europol

Europol is a coordinating body for the police work within the EU, aimed at international drug crime. This is no EU body, but rather a body for interstate cooperation. This mean for instance that it will not be possible to make majority decisions, all decisions mnust be unanimous.

This means that Europol only can cooperate on cases which all the EU countries agree on.The result will be, of course, that Europol never will start any cooperation concerning cannabis, or concerning small and medium doses of other drugs.

The new head of Europol, Storbek, has repeatedly stated that he does not view fighting cannabis especially important. He also considers the Dutch system of "Coffee shops" an internal Dutch affair, nothing for Europol to go into.

There are no stated drug liberal guidelines in Europol as a body, or from the civil servants of the organization. But there is no difficulty in finding Europol civil servants, who though reluctantly, is in favour of decrminalizing. Their wish is to be able to concentrate on the big drug bosses and the international drug organizations.

Europol has presently no binding agreement on what kind of cases one shall cooperate on. According to Storbek and Chief of Staff, Vowé, at least ten years will pass until there will be a ratified Europol agreement. That means that there will be at least ten years until Europol is operative. (9)

The EU Commission and the EU Counsil

The EU Commission and the EU Council represent a general and fairily restrictive line in the drug question. Another example of a restrictive superstructure. Still, both in the Commission and in the Council one can easily find representatives who openly declare themselves supporters of legalizing of cannabis.

One of them is Martin Bangeman, the German Commisioner on industrial matters.

In the Council there are several Social Ministers and Ministers of Justice, who publickly have spoken up for decriminalizing. Concerning Legal Prescription proposals, one can find support in statements both from the Commission and the Council, and one can expect support from even more members of the Commission and the Council.

If one decends through the hierarchy, to the civil servants, one will meet many who privately support drug liberalism. And it is a fact, that on this level most of the drug policy proposals are prepared, and to a certain degree carried. Sivil servants with drug liberal ideas are no doubt influencing the content of the decicions that are made. Once more we can see the difference between a fairily restrictive superstructure, and a drug liberal lower rank. (10, 11 and 12)

THE COUNTRIES

Germany
The Constitutional Court of Justice

On April 28.th 1994 the German Constitutional Court of Justice issued a decision with the implication that in Germany the use, possession, sale, growing and production of smaller amounts of cannabis for personal use were decriminalized. At the same time it opened up for import of small amounts of cannabis, and allowed transit of the drug (still only for personal use).

The decision is based on the statement that there is no evidence that cannabis is harmful.

The different states in Germany now have to decide how much an "amount for personal use" is. Most probably there will be different answers to that.

In Schleeswig Holstein it is already decided to decriminalize up to 30 grammes of cannabis. In Bayern one will most probably be much more restrictive.

This decision from the German Constitutional Court of Justice is one of the most serious drug liberal steps ever taken in Europe. It will strongly influence the development in a drug liberal direction, not only in Germany, the EU and the rest of Europe, but also in the rest of the world. (13)

Otherwise

The decision of the Constitutional Court of Justice is limited to cannabis. But several German states have already decriminalized other kinds of drugs. In Schleeswig Holstein they have already decriminalized possession of up to five grammes of cocaine and amphetamine, and one gramme of heroin.

The German Social Democrats have taken a drug liberal attitude. On their Party Congress in Wiesbaden in 1993 they decided to include in their party programme the demand for legalizing cannabis, decriminalizing of other kinds of drugs and a greater effort on liberal prescription programmes. In the electoral campaign prior to the election for Bundestag in October 1994, several drug liberal propositions were launched. In this they are supported by "Die Grüne", the left wing party PDS and about half of the liberal party, FDP. (14)

Several of the leading cities in the Frankfurt movement are situated in Germany, like Frankfurt, Hamburg and Hannover. In these cities the politicians from the bigger parties have agreed to sign the drug liberal Frankfurt Declaration. The German Social Democrats and about half of the Liberals voted drug liberal at the votings of the EU Parliament in May 1992 and February 1994.

In many German big cities Drug Prescription Programmes based on maintenance are implemented. This is followed by a very liberal distribution both of drugs and syringes.

The organized German drug liberal movement is very active. They are spearheaded by two organizations, Akzept and Cannabis Legal. They arrange demonstrations, seminars and information campaigns, and organize activities called "Smoke in", "Cannabis Weekend" etc.

Also the abuser's organizations, Junkies, Exusers and Substitutes (JES) are playing an important part in forming the opinion.

The drug liberal ideas are given a fairily good coverage in the media. Newspapers and magazines like Bild Zeitung and Der Spiegel are supporting the drug liberals, even editorial. This also goes for the leftist newspapers, like Tagezeitung and others. (15)

Holland.

Holland has had a liberal drug policy for about twenty yers. The foundation is decriminalizing of drugs for personal use. Several of the big cities have a system of "Coffee houses", where sale of cannabis for personal use is accepted. In Amsterdam a person may posess up to 30 grammes of cannabis without being prosecuted.

The rural areas are more restrictive than in the big cities.

The decriminalizing has strong political support. Probably there is a solid majority for legalizing cannabis in the Parliament, too, but Holland does not want to be the first country in the world to take this step. There is also in the Dutch Parliament a group promoting legalizing of all drugs. The parties Green Left, D66, the Social Democrats, about half of the Liberals and some local parties, are supporters of drug liberalism. A majority of the Dutch representatives voted drug liberal in te EU Parliament votings in May 1992 and February 1994.

At present a campaign for legalizing ecstasy is growing in Holland. The Social Democratic Party has, among others, demanded that ecstasy should be legalized.

Holland has a lot of organizations working for legalizing drugs, ranging from "Cannabis Connoisseur Club" and "The Hashish Museum" to the circles around the paper "Soft Secrets". The country also has special organizations for cannabis growers, exhibitions of cannabis products, mail-order sale of plants and seed, equipment for use and growing etc.

Growing cannabis is generally accepted, even if it is strictly on the outside of the law, or at least in the shadow areas. It is said that cannabis is one of the biggest export products from the agricultural area.

Many Dutch cities has signed the drug liberal Frankfurt Declaration. In many cities extended legal prescription of maintenance doses is practiced, with a liberal distribution of drugs (heroin and methadon) and syringes. Drug liberalism has strong support in the media. Drug liberalism is "normalized" in Holland, it is no longer a movement for freaks and outsiders. The country arranges every year several "Harm reduction" conferences. (16 and 17)

Italy

In 1993 there was a referendum concerning the election system and other questions. The people should take stand to eight questions, one of which was whether one wanted decriminalizing of drugs for personal use. 55 % voted for decriminalizing.

All trafficking with drugs in small quantities for personal use is therefore decriminalized.

The Italian Parliament has a coordinating group for all Parliament members who are in favour of a liberal drug policy. The group is called CORA, and had 160 members in the previous Parliament, coming from all parties exept the New Fascists. The situation in the new Parliament is not yet clear, but probably CORA has strengthened its influence. Both Forza Italia and Lega Nord have many CORA supporters.

The legalizing movement has founded a separate party. Lega Antiprohibitionista has their party leader, Marco Taradesh, in the Parliament. They have opened an election cooperation with The Radical Party. Support for legalizing does not, however, exist only in these two parties. Also the left wing party PDS, the Socialists, the Green Party and Forza Italia have similar propositions in their programmes. Within Lega Nord there is also strong support to the legalizing propositions.

A majority of the Italian representatives of the EU Parliament voted drug liberal in May 1992 and February 1994. Marco Taradash and other Italian representatives was playing a leading role on the drug liberal side of the debate.

Several Italian cities has signed the drug liberal Frankfurt Declaration. About a year ago Italy started an extended Legal Prescription Programme of maintenance doses, with a very liberal distributin of drugs and syringes. A majority of the TV stations and newspapers has taken a liberal stand in the drug question. (18 and 19)

Greece

Decriminalizing of trafficking with all kinds of drugs, in small quantities for personal use, has been implemented with broad political support. The governing Socialist Party (PASOK) also has legalizing of cannabis in their party programme. One of the left wing parties, the small Green Party and one of the Liberal parties also support legalizing of cannabis.The Greek socialists voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votings i May 1992 and February 1994. In Greece there is a Legalize Cannabis campaign, which primarily attracts musicians, artists, journalists and writers.

Kallithea, one of the cities within Greater Athens, has signed the Frankfurt Declaration, and in addition established a national contact web with other cities, that want to work in accordance with the declaration. More than a year ago Greece introduced a Legal Prescription Programme based on maintenance doses, with a liberal distribution of drugs and syringes. (20 and 21)

Great Britain

Decriminalizing is, for all practical purposes, carried through in several big city areas.

The Parliament has a small, but active Labour group, headed by Tony Banks, working for legalizing of cannabis. The drug liberals are getting passive support in New Liberal circles within the Tory Party and in the Liberal Democratic Party. The Green Party and the extreme leftists (the Trotskyists) are also pro legalizing all kinds of drugs. The Labour representatives in the EU Parliament voted drug liberal at the votings in May 1992 and February 1994.

British mass media are among the most drug liberal in Europe. In newspapers like The Times, Independent, Economist, New Statesman, Observer, and even in some BBC programmes, there have been pro legalizing editorials.

Great Britain has several strong legalizing organizations, the foremost are "Release" and "Legalize Cannabis Campaign". Among responsible persons within the health sector, judges and Chiefs of Police there is a striking support of legalizing. Great Britain has one of the worlds most liberal Legal Prescription Programmes. The city of Liverpool is the driving force behind the programme, which includes maintenance doses and a very liberal prescription of methadon, heroin and even crack. Amphetamine in tablet form is not classified as an A preparation. (22, 23 and 24)

Ireland

Decriminalizing of small quantities of cannabis for personal use is de facto implemented.

The legalizing movement is weak and badly organized. The Democratic Left Party, some of the Labour Party's representatives, a few of the Populists and the left extremists and the Green Party, are supporting legalizing.

The Irish Labour Party representatives in the EU Parliamnet voted drug liberal at the votings in May 1992 and February 1994. A few governmental bodies are supporting the decriminalizing proposals. The country has implemented an extensive Legal Prescription Programme with maintenance doses. This programme receives strong support. Smoking hashish is generally accepted by the society. (25)

Denmark

In Denmark trafficking with cannabis for personal use was decriminalized in 1994.

The Free City of Christiania has existed for some decades. In the Parliament (Folketinget) there is an extended, but passive support of legalizing cannabis. The Danish TV released a public opinion poll made among the Parliament representatives, and it showed a clear majority for legalizing cannabis.

The support is primarily found among the Social Democrats, the Socialist Folk Party, Radical Liberals and a few New Liberals and traditional commoners. The left extremists and the tiny Green Party are also pro legalizing. The Danish Social Democrats and a handful of other representatives voted drug liberal at the votings of the EU Parliament in May 1992 and February 1994.

The legalizing movement is strongly organized, and consists of many small organizations. They are working for legalizing cannabis. The media support of legalizing cannabis is quite strong. Copenhagen is part of the contact web of the Frankfurt movement. Denmark has launched a major Legal Prescription Programme with the main purpose of gradual reduction of the consumption.

Spain

Decriminalizing of cannabis has been implemented. "Ecstasy" is classified a "soft drug". The Socialists and the rest of the left wing and parts of the Liberals are supporting the liberalizing. The left extremists support legalizing all drugs. The Spanish socialists voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votings in May 1992 and February 1994.

Several distinguished persons in the public debate are on the boards of some of the international legalizing organizations, like International Antiprohibitionist League, International Drug Policy Foundation and the "Harm reduction" conferences. The international "Harm reduction" conference of 1992 was arranged in Barcelona. Spain has strong local legalizing movements.

The legalizing trend have some support in the media. The country has implemented Legal Prescription Programmes, based both on maintenance doses and on the gradual reduction principle. (26 and 27)

Portugal

Decriminalizing of cannabis is de facto implemented in the big city areas. In the Parliament there is formed an anti-prohibitionist group with 46 members, mainly from the Socialist Party. The Portuguese socialists and the left wing voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votlings in May 1992 and February 1994. Portugal has started up Legal Prescription Programmes based on maintenance doses. (28 and 29)

Belgium

Belgium is quite restrictive. The country has a legalizing movement in Flandern and one in Brussels. From the Free University of Brussels has been issued a strong propaganda campaign for legalizing. The legalizing movement gets a certain support from the socialists in Flandern and Brussels.

The socialists voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votings in May 1992 and February 1994. The Socialist governed city of Charleroi has signed the Frankfurt Declaration. Belgia has started Legal Prescription Programmes, maninly based on the gradual reduction principle. (30 and 31)

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is quite restrictive, but the Socialists voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votings in May 1992 and February 1994.

France

At present France is a very restrictive country. France has the strongest legislation on this matter in Europe. The police can, for instance, set in motion drug controls within the borders, even if there is no concrete evidence or suspicion.

On the other hand there is a very strong legalizing movement, localised at the universities, and among leading people in the health field. The legalizing movement issues a lot of material, like the newspaper "Cannabis", and they get a good deal of support from the media, from TV channels and papers like Le Monde and Le Soir. The political support to legalizing, mainly concerning cannabis, is found among the Socialists, the left extremists and The Green Party, and also among protest groups from 1968 (exept the Communists). The Socialists and the Communists voted drug liberal at the EU Parliament votings in May 1992 and February 1994.

Certain officials have given public support to the idea of legalizing. The conservative gaullistic home secretary has opened up for a public debate on decriminalizing and legalizing. A Court of Justice in Lille laid down a judgment in the autumn of 1993, which must be considered the first step towards decriminalizing of drugs for personal use. The jugdment has made precedence in similar cases later. The country has launched Legal Prescription Programmes, mainly based on the gradual reduction principle. (32 and 33)

Switserland

The country has grave drug problems. The legalizing movement, "Cannabis Legal", is immensely strong, probably the strongest in Europe. The movement is, however, mainly localised in the German speaking parts of the country.

A great deal of the leading persons in the society debate are positive to legalizing of cannabis, and are often positive to legalizing of other drugs as well. This include, for instance, representatives of the national Government, representatives of Canton Governments and in city councils, lawyers, police officers, industrial leaders, journalists etc.

Together with Germany and Holland, Switzerland is supporter and leader of all drug liberalism and legalizing in the world. At the same time Switzerland has strong organizations opposing drug liberalism. These are mainly concentrated in the non German speaking parts of the country. Both sides are actively using petitions.

The political support to legalizing is mainly found among the Socialists, the Green Party, the New Liberalists, the Populists and several local parties.

Many of the Swiss cities have signed the Frankfurt Declaration. Zürich and Bern are among the leading cities in the movement, and are viewed as spearheads on Legal Prescription Programmes. Eight Swiss cities are presently implementing Legal Prescription Programmes, with maintenance doses as the main principle, and with a very liberal distribution of drugs (including heroin) and syringes. (34 and 35)

Austria

This country is still quite restrictive, and has only a relatively small organization working for liberalizing the drug legislature, and for and legalizing. The existing legalizing movement has a weak political anchoring, though there may be certain drug liberal tendencies among the young socialists and the Social Democrats.

Two cities, Klagenfurt and Kärnten, are on their way into the Frankfurt contact web. The ideas of drug liberalism have little support in the media. Legal Prescription is scarce, in the few cases where it is applied, it is mainly based on the gradual reduction principle. (36)

Finland

Drug liberal ideas gain very little support in established political circles. There is a small, but quite noisy cannabis society. The society consists mainly of new liberalistic intellectuals, who have been studying in the U.S.A. There is evidence of a small tendency to support the "harm reduction" line in governmental bodies. Finland has at present no Legal Prescription Programmes.

Norway

The legalizing ideas has very little support. Political support comes from parts of the youth movements of the Progress Party (extreme conservative) and the Young Liberals. Legalizing also has some support in certain university intellectual circles, among a very few within the health sector and some persons in practical health and treatment work. Some support is possibly also given by certain groups of free intellectuals.

A small group called "Pluss", is a member of European Interst Group of Drug Users. In Norway there is a small scale Legal Prescription Programme, based on strictly controlled gradual reduction principles.

Sweden

Here also legalizing gets very little support. Political support only comes from the radical conservatives and the New Liberals, like "The Freedom Front" and "Young Conservatives". There may also possibly be some support from groups of free intellectuals.

Iceland

In Iceland there is no visible support of legalizing.

Time perspective.

The support of drug liberal ideas and legalizing has grown considerably during the last years.

Ten years ago

Ten years ago drug liberalism was limited to politically marginal groups.

It was found mainly among hippies, parts of the left wing extremists and a few of the health service leaders. The "Green Ones" were not as yet established as a political organization with any influence. True enough, the drug liberal development in Holland had already started. But this was seen more as a passive attitude to a drug liberal development, than an active drug liberalism.

In no other parts of Europe were there support of drug liberal ideas in influential political circles. The surrounding world viewed the Dutch drug liberals as quite unserious, and they had problems in being heard in the political debate. The West European Social Democracy was almost free of drug liberals.

Five years ago

Five years ago the support had increased some. Drug liberalism was still a marginal phenomenon, but the legalizing movement was in motion, and some of the organizations were established.

A few of the organizatons were supported by the odd influential politician or decision maker. The drug liberals were gradually looked upon as serious debaters. They were allowed to take part in the political debate, even if still only on a small scale.

"The Green Ones" were about to gain some power as a political movement. Parallel to this the support of drug liberalism was growing. In the West European Social Democracy the drug liberals were gaining more and more support, firstly from the Spanish socialists.Holland had a quite different growth of support for legalizing than the rest of Europe. There drug liberalism had moved from a passive stage into an active drug liberalism. The drug liberalism in Holland got support both from some of the political parties and other political forces.

A breakthrough the last five years

Drug liberalism has undergone an almost explosive development during the last five years. Today the debate goes in serious political connections. The legalizing movement has grown strong, and has gained support in many established political circles. Holland is no longer the only nation with a lively drug liberal debate, and with broad political support to the drug liberal ideas.

The most important development has occurred in West European Social Democracy. The support has grown strong in most of the EU countries and in Switzerland, but is still weak in the new member countries, Sweden, Finland and Austria.

Where "The Green Ones" have gained political influence, drug liberalism has got a foothold in established political circles.This development has lead to that now the drug liberal powers dominate the drug debate in Western Europe. The opposing powers, the ones who are against a drug liberal development, have to a great degree lost the debate.

Summary

The progress of drug liberalism in the last few years is clearly connected to two situations:

1. "The Green Ones" have got a political breakthrough in certain countries, areas and connections.

2. There has been a major shift among the Social Democrats in favour of drug liberalism.

With the support of the West European Social Democrats and the New Liberalists, and with the support from "The Green ones", the leftist side and the left wing extremists, and even support from a few traditional liberals, the drug liberals are no longer a politically marginal group.

NOTES

1. Jack Stuart-Clarke, Defeating the Drug Barons! 1991.

2. EU Parliament protocol of 13.05.1992.

3. EU Parliament, Session documents of 24.02.1994.

4. Report by CELAD to European Council, Edinburgh, nov. 1992.

5. Interview with Emer Daly at the EU Commission's Drug Unit.

6. See note 5.

7. Interviews with Hilde van Lindt, coordinator of European Drugs Monitoring Centre.

8. See note 5 and 7.

9. Interview with Peter Vowé, Chief of Staff in Europol.

10.Interview with Jack Stuart-Clarke, vice president of the EU Parliament.

11.Interview with Marco Taradesh, representative of the EU Parliament.

12.See note 5.

13.Court of Justice documents from Bundesverfassungsgericht (The Constitutional Court of Justice), 28.04.1994

14.Interview with Gudrun Scaich Walch, SPD member of Bundestag.

15.Interviews with the ECDP chief coordinator, Susanne Schardt, Frankfurt.

16.The newspaper "Soft Secrets", 1992, 1993 and 1994.

17.Interviews with Paul Vasseaur, drug coordinator in Amsterdam.

18.IAL Newsletter, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

19.See note 11.

20.See note 11.

21.Interviews with Anna Mechaelidou, drug coordinator in Kallithea, Greece.

22.Interview with Tony Banks, Labour representative in the GB Parliament.

23.Interviews with Noel Towe, leader of Local Governments Drugs Forum in Great Britain.

24.Interviews with Andrew Bennett, Liverpool, leader at Mersey Drug Training and Info Centre.

25.Interviews with John O'Connor, leader of National Drug Treatment Centre in Dublin.

26.See note 18.

27.See note 7.

28.See note 18.

29.See note 7.

30.See note 7.

31.Interview with Joe van Dorn, drug coordinator in Charleroi, Belgium.

32.See note 18.

33.See note 7.

34.See note 18.

35.See note 15.

36.See note 15.

37.Interview with Johan Danielsson, The Parent Organization Against Drugs, Sweden.