Europe has seen many interesting developments in drug policies on a variety of political levels. The most active levels of government have been municipal, as many European cities have joined inter-city organizations like the European Cities on Drug Policy (ECDP). The ECDP is an organization which was created in 1991 by European cities at the centre of the drug trade that wanted to work together to develop new strategies in dealing with the problems of illegal drugs.

The European Cities on Drug Policy held a meeting of their General Assembly in Amsterdam on June 23. The meeting focussed on political discussions about the current situations within the member cities. We will include more information on the results of this meeting in our next issue.

Spanish Judges for Democracy

In Spain, a conference of "Judges for Democracy" proposed a revision of drug laws and undoing repressive international conventions on narcotics and psychotropic substances. The association recommended that "soft drugs" be regulated like alcohol and tobacco, while "hard drugs" should be classified as medication and therefore distributed in the same manner as any other.

This point of view was taken up more recently by the Director of Spain's National Drugs Plan, who proposed to the national parliament that a decriminalization of cannabis should be considered, stating that "the great hypocrisy in all this is that alcohol is the drug which does the most harm."

Ecstasy in Berlin & Amsterdam

The cities of Berlin and Amsterdam have both seen an increase in the use of dance party drugs such as "ecstasy". Although Holland classified MDMA as a "hard drug" in 1980, this was primarily through pressure from other nations, and real criminalization remains limited. Amsterdam has established regulations for rave events such as air-conditioning, cheap soft drinks and chill-out rooms. Ravers get information about the effects and safer use of ecstasy and other synthetic drugs when they buy their ticket for the event, and pills can be sent by mail to a free testing centre for analysis. A service is also provided at rave events where little parts of pills can be tested quickly to give consumers an idea if the pill contains MDMA and other substances like amphetamines.

Berlin has not gone as far as Amsterdam in promoting a rational drug policy, instead they have only established a program called Eve & Rave. This program is aimed at educating young people about "excessive party-going combined with taking synthetic and psychedelic drugs," and to provide "alternative perspectives to help them change their lifestyles, step by step".

Consumer Rooms in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has been the first German city to open a "Konsumraume" (consumer room) where drug users are allowed to consume drugs under hygienic and stress-free conditions. A maximum of eight persons can use the room at one time, and two senior drug care workers are always present to assist in an emergency. Clean needles and syringes are handed out at the door, along with other necessary paraphernalia.

The room is open from 2pm to 9pm every day. Because it is not in an area which is easy for most of the target group of users to reach, a bus runs from the main station and the facility every day between 3:30pm and 9:30pm.

The number of clients has risen from ten persons a day in December 1994 when it opened, to about sixty persons a day now. In spite of the decentralized location, the clients seem accepting of the clean space where mirrors, tables, and sufficient lighting are provided. Criticisms include the short hours the facility is open and the commute, as well as the fact that methadone patients are not allowed on the program.

A second Konsumraume was opened in February, closer to the Main Station. They have only reported a similar experience to the first, with a promise for more detailed information in the immediate future.

Coca Conference

Frankfurt was also home to a meeting called "Coca is no Cocaine" on March 16. The meeting was between experts and guests from Peru and Bolivia and was organized by various agencies, including the Observatoire Geopolitique des Drogues and the European Cities on Drug Policy. The meeting was about the "decriminalization and integral development of coca".

According to the UN Convention of 1961, not only cocaine, but even the coca leaf is a forbidden substance. This fact provides the justification for a "War on Drugs" waged against the poorest regions of the Earth, where the people are highly dependent on growing coca despite the illegality and constant prosecution. The meeting initiated an unbiased debate, and discussed the possibilities of legally grown coca for teas, medical uses, and cosmetics.