Swedish politicians fear legalized pot in Denmark
Published: 22 Nov 12 12:07 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44584/20121122/
Politicians in southern Sweden are smoking mad over plans by the mayor of Copenhagen to legalize the sale of cannabis in the Danish capital.
- Sweden 'self-sufficient' on marijuana: police (12 Nov 12)
- Okay to do drugs in Denmark: Swedish court (29 Sep 12)
- Pot farming 'booming' as moonshining declines (7 Jun 12)
Part of his argument is that police enforcement efforts have proved fruitless.
"We now want to take the trade away from the gangs and create a controlled market where people can buy cannabis and know its strength," Jensen said in an interview last month with the Copenhagen Post.
"By regulating it we can also bring healthcare professionals closer to people that abuse cannabis."
But the Copenhagen mayor's cannabis legalization call has sparked concerns in southern Sweden, where marijuana would be for sale just a short train or car trip away if legalized.
Nineteen local politicians from municipalities in Skåne, as well as Skåne region councillor Anders Åkesson of the Green Party, have penned a protest letter to Jensen expressing their displeasure with the plans.
"We want to distance ourselves from every step that could change attitudes to narcotics in the Öresund Region," the politicians wrote in their letter to Jensen.
Åkesson fears that legal cannabis sales in Copenhagen would "legitimize" the drug.
"There is a clear risk that the drug will end up in the hands of more children and young people if it's sold in stores in Copenhagen," Åkesson told the regional Sydsvenskan newspaper.
Jensen wants to carry out a 3-year trial of regulated marijuana and hashish sales in Copenhagen for anyone over 18.
So far, however, Jensen's plans have gained little traction with the Danish government and parliament.
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but it is not 'narcotics it is cannabis that is being discussed.
Cannabis is safer than alcohol or tobacco - heaven forbid scientific evidence might actually influence politicians.
Mayor Jensen's proposal makes far more sense than maintaining the current situation. I wish him luck in fighting old, outdated attitudes.
had friends over 4 semi farewell drinks saturday night. 3 thousand kr worth of booze. yeah everyone had a great time until just after midnight when the first person threw up. the rest bundled into taxis a few hours later barely able to walk and no one got out of bed until late afternoon the next day in an awful awful state. some violentl ill. except the pot smoker who was up at 8am fresh as a daisy and right as rain. smoked about 30kr worth of gunga and had the best time giggling my stupid little head off.
by all means let society encourage more drinking and prohibit cannabis. it will be to their own detriment. watched one of those dodgy yank cop shows - narcotic squad or some crap where a dozen obese redneck cops in full body armour rip this guys door of its hinges - go in with machine guns aimed and bust a guy in the middle of rolling a joint and get him with - 3 freaking grams! thrown to the floor. roughed up. handcuffed and dragged away with the morons all high fiving each other. job well done. another bad guy off the streets.
its the usa pressuring the world to make cannabis a class 1 drug. fortunately for some countries - and even states within the usa - have a backbone and are sick of p&ssing 7 kazillion $$ a year up against the wall for nothing.
fight the good fight. LEGALISE IT!
whats next - gays dont deserve to be stoned to death and are normal people like you and me that are entitled to be married? women get the right to vote?
Here is one of its reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars... If David Sedaris had written 'Catcher in the Rye'..this would be it, June 30, 2012
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This review is from: Shoulda Robbed a Bank (Kindle Edition)
I have never smoked pot in my life...nor do I ever care to.
I read about this book in numerous Huffington Post comments. Thought I would read it because I know nothing about marijuana or the people involved with it. I am ecstatic that I did. Funny, Funny, Funny!!!
The chapters are like short stories. Stories about unloading boats with helicopters, close encounters with law enforcement, traveling through the jungles of South America. The chapter about the author's first time smoking marijuana made me feel like I was with him...coughing.
All of the characters were just a group of loveable, nice guys and girls. Not what I had been raised to believe...hysterical maniacs high on pot bent on death and mayhem. They were nothing like that.
If you have ever read any of David Sedaris' books, and like them...you will love Shoulda Robbed a Bank.
And the crazy things happening reminded me of Holden Caufield in 'Catcher in the Rye' and the way he staggered through life.
The way the words are put together are like nothing I have ever heard. I am sure I will use many of the sayings found in this book just to dazzle my friends. A terrific read. I love this book.
@#8. Well finally I see why your posts are so wacko. You mistake TV shows for reality. Don't know if you're ever in the real world, but as #11 says, the trend is toward legalising pot.