DRUG DEMONSTRATION

"Budapest Sun", hungary's english-language newspaper, November 26 - December 2, 1998

by Marton Burger

Around 2.000 people demonstrated against the Hungarian Government's plans to bring in the strictest drug laws in Europe.

The protest took place in Vorosmarty ter in Downtown Budapest on Friday.

Before Christmas Parliament is set to pass a bill which would make thousands of casual drug users criminals and could lead to three years imprisonment.

Before forming the Government, Fidesz had expressed support for the legalization of soft drugs. Even four years ago, the present prime Minister said during his election campaign that there were no taboos regarding a more liberal drug law.

Now Fidesz politicians appear to have changed their minds.

The proposed new laws would punish anyone caught taking illegal drugs with three years in prison.

However some members of the Fidesz parliamentary faction want this amended to two years.

The main problem, according to critics, is that the bill would punish casual drug users more than addicts, as the offer of medical treatment as an alternative to prison would be extended to addicts. Since drugs such as marihuana or hash do not cause addiction, this would not be an option for soft drug users.

The demonstrators were largely university and secondary school students, rather than hard drug users.

It even included 15-year-old youngsters who carried banners asking the Government not to make them criminals.

Statistics show that there are 100-150.000 regular drug users in Hungary.