[Thom]

Quote

City council members criticise the government, arguing that legalisation is the only solution to the crime created by the booming and illicit trade of cannabis

State-run hash and marijuana dispensaries won't be popping up in Copenhagen any time soon after the Justice Ministry this weekend turned down Copenhagen City Council's request to experiment with legalising cannabis in the city.

In a letter to the council, the justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne), wrote that the government could not permit the experiment as they believed that legalising hash and marijuana would likely increase both availability and use, which was unwise given the range of side effects that cannabis has been linked to.

“Because of this the government will not permit the experiment,” Bødskov wrote.

The rejection was met with disappointment from members of the city council, including the deputy mayor for social affairs, Mikkel Warming (Enhedslisten), who argued that legalisation was the only solution to the crime created as a result of the illicit drug trade.

“It’s very disappointing,” Warming told public broadcaster DR. “The prohibitive policies we have operated under in Denmark for so many years have not worked. You can still buy hash on street corners across the city which also means the hash is mixed up with other harder drugs. Criminals also pocket about two billion kroner a year from the trade.”

Warming added that he would continue to work toward the legalisation of hash and marijuana, pointing out that it took ten years to convince parliament of the need for an injection room for users of hard drugs.

City council member Lars Aslan Rasmussen (Socialdemokraterne) also criticised the government’s decision, arguing that the criminalistion of hash and marijuana was the root cause of the high level of gun crime in the city.

“[Legalisation] would limit the gang conflict and it would also give us access to the group of users who have been left to the criminal environment,” Rasmussen told Ritzau. “We had hoped that they would take our proposal seriously, as we have the support of 80 percent of the city council. Copenhagen has a serious problem because the gang conflict is a result of the trade in marijuana. The gangs turn over more money than 7-Eleven.”

hxxp://cphpost.dk/news/local/legal-cannabis-rejected-government?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Elephant Face]

Same shit different country.

Shame.

At least the drug lords wont be out of a job just yet.

[MED]

typical.

more available isnt really a reason. its available. take the crime out of it.

[margin_walker]

Quote

In a letter to the council, the justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne), wrote that the government could not permit the experiment as they believed that legalising hash and marijuana would likely increase both availability and use, which was unwise given the range of side effects that cannabis has been linked to.

Such as going into the kitchen and then wondering what the fuck you came into the kitchen for

[AlbertScroggins]

strings continually pulled.

[eurasian_farmer]

Gutted for the Danes!

They were 'THIS' close....

[lucifer93]

Damn skam

[namkha]

MED, on 14 May 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

typical.

more available isnt really a reason. its available. take the crime out of it.

all the evidence suggests that cannabis and alcohol are in practice in competition

more available cannabis = less people drinking

seems to me Denmark could benefit from that

if you aren't persuaded by that argument have a look at

Marijuana is Safer: Why is the government driving us to drink? by the folks at NORML
http://www.alternet....eople_to_drink/

and also
http://www.saferchoice.org/

This post has been edited by namkha: 15 May 2012 - 06:46 AM

[MED]

namkha, on 15 May 2012 - 06:45 AM, said:

MED, on 14 May 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

typical.

more available isnt really a reason. its available. take the crime out of it.

all the evidence suggests that cannabis and alcohol are in practice in competition

more available cannabis = less people drinking

seems to me Denmark could benefit from that

if you aren't persuaded by that argument have a look at

Marijuana is Safer: Why is the government driving us to drink? by the folks at NORML
http://www.alternet....eople_to_drink/

and also
http://www.saferchoice.org/

cannabis definitly threatens the alcohol industry. dont need to persuade me on that.
one of many industries that were probably lobbying like hell to keep it illegal no doubt.

[Eddiesilence]

Given the history of Christiania and its interaction with biker gangs, it's not in doubt that Danish legislators are applying the polar opposite of a policy which would reduce crime, social problems related to drug-misuse, and gang activity. One wonders if these political friends of the Carlsberg Group are aware of the fact.

[MED]

Eddiesilence, on 15 May 2012 - 03:43 PM, said:

Given the history of Christiania and its interaction with biker gangs, it's not in doubt that Danish legislators are applying the polar opposite of a policy which would reduce crime, social problems related to drug-misuse, and gang activity. One wonders if these political friends of the Carlsberg Group are aware of the fact.

my bro lives there and i think he said they tried a designated dealing zone. like out of the tv series The WIre. i think he said the crime rate fell too... then politics got in the way and it ended for reasons i dont remember.

stoner memory

This post has been edited by MED: 15 May 2012 - 04:59 PM

[Cnut the Great]

Danish guy here

if you don't know, Christiania is located practically inside Copenhagen, the danish capitol. There's been a lot of troubles with the legality of the place, leading to the previous government connecting the dots between Christiania and biker gangs. Aggressivenes toward the place lead to the hash market spreading out into loads of hash clubs around the city. Lucrative options for every gang in town, we never had problems with immigrants - suddenly there's just one big turf war going on between 3-4 big gangs.

Local politicians were quick to see, make cannabis legal and take away the reason for the turf war. They've been voting +80% in favor for years now and I do believe they will continue until the bloodshed stops.

[eurasian_farmer]

Best of luck Cnut!!