Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Christiania says yes to marijuana and no to hard drugs.
Marijuana has always been the national plant of the free city. “Pusher Street” (named
for the former sale of soft drugs here) is Christiania's main drag. It was once lined with
stalls selling marijuana, joints, and hash. But in the 2000s, Pusher Street has come under
fire. To pre-empt city forces shutting down the entire community for its open sale of pot,
residents bulldozed the marijuana stalls lining Pusher Street in 2004. Since then, in spite
of regular police raids, marijuana remains prevalent. But the retailing, while still fragrant,
is no longer flagrant. On my last visit I found a small stretch of Pusher Street, dubbed the
“Green Light District,” where pot was openly, if cautiously, being sold. Signs acknow-
ledged that this activity was still illegal, and announced three rules: 1. Have fun; 2. No
photos; and 3. No running—“because it makes people nervous.”
The recent crackdown has provided a classic case study in the regrettable conse-
quences of a war on marijuana. After the crackdown, for the first time in years, the Copen-
hagen street price for pot is up, gangs are moving into the marijuana business, and crime
is associated with pot. There was actually a murder in 2005, as pushers fought to estab-
