Switzerland has an estimated 30,000 hard drug addicts, one of Europe's highest rates. In contrast to many other countries, the death toll is falling from a peak of 399 in 1994 to 241 last year. In a referendum last year, the traditionally cautious Swiss overwhelmingly voted for the experiment to be put on a permanent legal footingthe world's firstand Parliament approved it last month. Even though the government policy has won praise at home and abroad, it still hasn't stamped out trafficking. Around Geneva's railway station, dealers lurk in the evening shadows in wait for potential clients.
Similar scenes occur in other cities.
Seizures of hard drugs have not slackened in the run-up to Sunday's vote. Cannabis legalization activists claimed the sweep was politically motivated.