I am completely in favouir of this policy.
Drug taking is like prostitution - society has no choice about its presence, only how it addresses that presence.
As Jafi points out, in both instances, there is a moral high ground adopted by large numbers of people who see addicition as self-inflicted and therefore something to be left to the addict to sort for themsevles.
It is far more complex than that - including issues of deprivation, mental illness, homelessness, and myriad other factors which lead to addicition.
How deaprate must your life be that your way of blotting it out is to stick a needle in your arm?
Under medical supervision, addicts can avoid the worst aspects of the criminal addicts lifestyle, which has to be a good thing for everyone involved.
The only downside is - as Switzerland has found - actually getting addicts to kick their addiction when their drug is available like this, is proving difficult, though not in all cases.
I think a lifelong addict who has support and help and legal access to their drug has to be better than the current crime-driven system we all have to deal with as things are.
Just because alcohol is seen as a 'social' drug does not mean that heroin addic ts should not receive our help and support.
A litle compassion goes a long way.