"Segodnja", June 4, 1998, p. 6

DEMONSTRATORS WOULD NOT RISK TO SMOKE MARIJUANA PUBLICLY

by MARINA LATYSHEVA

Permission to smoke marijuana and abolishing persecutions for drug addiction would help to reduce crime in the country, think representatives of Russian branch of the Transnational Radical Party (CORA). The only problem is to inform people correctly, giving them "truth about drugs" which is unknown for them. From 6th to 10th of June on Pushkin square CORA will held a public action - the first one in our country - under slogan "It's necessary to legalize soft drugs in Russia".

In Moscow a demonstration of advocates of soft drugs legalization would be held at first time. But in the whole world members of CORA traditionally organize in early June the Global Days Against Drug War. However, foreign Radicals act more decisively than their Russian colleagues. They distribute already not "the truth about drugs", but drugs themselves. They even use them publicly. It's known, that CORA leader, Italian Marco Pannella is already for three years under investigation for the whole series of such feats. In 1995, in direct air of a known TV talk show, he even offered to the show conductor 250 grams of drug as a Christmas gift. Now he risks to face 6 years of imprisonment. But he hopes to escape punishment. Indeed, Italian Radicals have many supporters and the laws in the country are loyal for drug addicts.

In Russia the things are completely different. The recently adopted law "On narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances" has put all the dots over "i" in this question by prohibition of drug use. And it is very risky in our country to offer drugs to TV showmen or use them publicly. Therefore during the action in Moscow all will be "half-tone calmer". Participants of the action intend to organize on Pushkin square gathering signatures under petition to Russian government to legalize soft drugs. The nothing suspected Moscow citizens would be proposed to answer three questions: is it necessary to legalize soft drugs? Is it possible to persecute people for its use? Is it necessary to distribute heroin among addicts under medical prescription?

Apotheosis of "holidays" will be manifestation of "drug reform" advocates, scheduled for Tuesday, June 9. During this rally party's activists intend to violate publicly the anti-drug law recently entered in force. One of its articles bans distribution of any information about one drug's advantage in comparison with another one. Two Radicals will tell to the gathered participants of the rally, how marijuana has been "explored", how it was being used and why it is better than heroin. Members of CORA, according to their words, will inform the law enforcement bodies about their intention to violate the public order. Officers of the press service of Moscow Interior Department told however that till now nobody informed them. Therefore it is not clear yet, how militia would react on violation of law.

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Do you support legalization of soft drugs?

Before CORA members, correspondents of "Segodnja" made yesterday their own opinion poll on the issue of drugs legalization.

Aleksandr Goliusov, chief of Department for AIDS prophylactics, Ministry of Health Care

I am strongly against legalization. If many people became victims in condition of illegal drug traffic, they would be much greater when drugs legalized. As for the problem of HIV decease among drug addicts, legalization would be not effective and would not decrease the speed of AIDS spread.

Jurij Losa, musician

I am against any drugs and I think, they are admissible only if there is no other solution. For example, my mother before to die has been injected by drugs - they helped her against suffer. If only introduce any legalization, it should be under control: special "smoke houses" controlled by physicians, militia and rehabilitation services. In this case I am in favour of legalization.

Avdej Ter-Oganjan, painter, sometimes smokes marijuana

It's only me, who must decide, to poison myself by drugs or not. Otherwise it's possible to prohibit sausages because it contains too much cholesterol, or kitchen knifes because one can kill somebody. Trying to make life better, the State must regulate difficult problems, and not use prohibition.

Lev Levinson, human rights activist

I am for legalization of soft drugs. Such kind of experiment exists in Holland, and statistics shows: there are now less drug addicts among citizens of this country. It's another cap of tea, that there are drug addicts from all over the world attracted by such soft life conditions. If other European countries would admit marijuana too, effect could be much more essential.

Vera Krichevskaja, producer of TV talk show on drugs "Sumerki"

I strongly oppose legalization of drugs in Russia. The experience of countries which have made such experiments, shows that number of drug addicts there is growing. In Spain, the number of drug addicts after legalization became seven times more in ten years. We live in completely different world. And in our conditions, possible legalization of soft drugs could cause much more terrible consequences.