Copenhagen cannabis experiment rejected by Justice Minister - Eurad

In a letter to the Council, the social-democrat Minister of Justice, Morten Bodskove, wrote that the government will not permit state-run cannabis dispensaries in Copenhagen, which had been earlier proposed, due to the known impact of cannabis use and concerns about increasing both availability and use. Whether the pilot will now go ahead will be up to the parliament.

Lobby groups interested in pursuing regulated markets of cannabis have been quick to respond to this recent political statement, claiming that cannabis is widely available in Denmark and arguing that the "government did not make clear how the current hard-line approach is diminishing cannabis use".

However, the recent European Schools Survey launched this week clearly shows decreasing use of lifetime cannabis in young people (aged 15-16) in Denmark since 2003.

Whilst cannabis use is on a downward trajectory, the report shows highly concerning patterns of heavy episodic drinking among young people in Denmark. Perhaps this is where Mikkel Warming, the Mayor of Social Affairs in Copenhagen, who recently took part in the Copenhagen Marijuana March 2012, should be putting his efforts, rather than spending his energies bringing the case for regulated cannabis to the national parliament.

European School Survey Results Showing Denmark against European Average (2011)

Mean age of participants = 15.8