Another City Votes To Legalize It.

[greenbuddha]

Denmark: Copenhagen Votes To Legalise Marijuana

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URL: http://www.mapinc.or...1/n667/a06.html

Newshawk: CMAP http://www.mapinc.org/cmap/

Votes: 0

Pubdate: Fri, 18 Nov 2011

Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)

Copyright: 2011 Telegraph Media Group Limited

Contact:male2('dtletters','telegraph.co.uk'); dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114

Author: Richard Orange, Malmo

 

 

COPENHAGEN VOTES TO LEGALISE MARIJUANA

 

Marijuana could soon be legalised in Copenhagen, after the city voted overwhelmingly in favour of a scheme that would see the drug sold through a network of state-run shops and cafes.

 

The scheme, if approved by the Danish parliament at the start of next year, could make the city the first to fully legalise, rather than simply tolerate, marijuana consumption.

 

The drug is already sold openly on the streets of Christiania, a self-proclaimed 'free town' in the city centre, despite the closure of the neighbourhood's Amsterdam-style coffee shops in 2004.

 

But marijuana has never been officially decriminalised and those caught in possession of even small amounts face fines of up to UKP 450.

 

"We are thinking of perhaps 30 to 40 public sales houses, where the people aren't interested in selling you more, they're interested in you," said Mikkel Warming, the Mayor in charge of Social Affairs at Copenhagen City Council. "Who is it better for youngsters to buy marijuana from? A drug pusher, who wants them to use more, who wants them to buy hard drugs, or a civil servant?"

 

The City Council voted on Thursday night, by a margin of 39 votes to nine, to empower Mr Warming's Social Affairs committee to draw up a detailed outline of how the plan would work.

 

The proposal will then be sent to to the Danish Parliament for approval early next year.

 

"We want to make it a little bit more concrete what kind of decriminalisation we want: should it be a public buying system, should there be an age limit?" Mr Warming explained.

 

He said he was opposed to instituting cannabis cafes, where marijuana use is tolerated, despite it remaining illegal to grow and import the drug.

 

This, he argued, would leave the revenues, which are estimated at UKP 200m, in the control of the city's notorious biker gangs.

 

"We don't want an Amsterdam model. We want a way to make it legal to import or grow marijuana." he said.

 

Cannabis possession and production in the Netherlands are still technically punishable by fines. Its notorious coffee shops are also illegally but are tolerated.

 

The Danish parliament voted down a previous proposal submitted by Copenhagen City Council three years ago.

MAP posted-by: Matt

[DT61]

Sure - but in the EU they are also outlawing airport body scanners - while here they sre purchasing more.

[Croppled1]

Safe medical use requires acceptance to changes in the former practices of law by society especially those in Law Enforcement and the Judicial System as were finding out here in Michigan . There are cause and effect relationships flexing back and forth around the Globe as the majority of Citizens voice their desire to see a end to prohibition of cannabis and the drug war mentality that punishes the sick and dieing for seeking comfort .

 

. Everyone knows it is ridiculous to allow for personal use with no legal means of supply like has been done in parts of Europe for decades with growers existing through bribes or deep underground protected by huge profit margins , barristers , and demand . It would be a breath of fresh air to see a Government Legalize Cannabis use and cultivation including supporting business activity . When I voted for Prop 1 in 2008 that is what I thought was going to occur for our community whose gatekeeper was a licensed approved Doctor certified by the State of Michigan under a law approved by it's Citizens .

 

I hope Copenhagen is able to follow through on this postive step that ends punishment for personal : cannabis use , cultivation , with reasonable distribution promoting freedom .

[greenbuddha]

Safe medical use requires acceptance to changes in the former practices of law by society especially those in Law Enforcement and the Judicial System as were finding out here in Michigan . There are cause and effect relationships flexing back and forth around the Globe as the majority of Citizens voice their desire to see a end to prohibition of cannabis and the drug war mentality that punishes the sick and dieing for seeking comfort .

 

. Everyone knows it is ridiculous to allow for personal use with no legal means of supply like has been done in parts of Europe for decades with growers existing through bribes or deep underground protected by huge profit margins , barristers , and demand . It would be a breath of fresh air to see a Government Legalize Cannabis use and cultivation including supporting business activity . When I voted for Prop 1 in 2008 that is what I thought was going to occur for our community whose gatekeeper was a licensed approved Doctor certified by the State of Michigan under a law approved by it's Citizens .

 

I hope Copenhagen is able to follow through on this postive step that ends punishment for personal : cannabis use , cultivation , with reasonable distribution promoting freedom .

 

People are starting to wake up... and when enough do, we will see even more changes coming about.

 

And will we be better off because of it?

 

Most certainly !!!!!