Nothing is free in life. Least of all an entire TOWN! Christiania, Denmark deems itself a "free town" where the use of cannabis is sold and consumed openly. This may sound like a dream to some but from my visit to this wonderland of potheads I believe that dream grew into a nightmare.
A brief history of Christiania:
1971: a group of tree hugging, pot smoking hippies took over abandoned military barracks to create their own island town once called Amager Island.
1989: legalized by the Danish Parliament.
1991: inception of a local law deeming Christiania a "free zone", open to all, car free, and under the control of its inhabitants.
2004: Danish authorities crack down on the cannabis trade in Christiania. Inhabitants now operate more on the down low. The open stalls closed and the pot was moved outside of Copenhagen. However, this has not diminished the pot sales on Pusher Street. If anything it has a broader dissemination throughout Copenhagen with harder drugs being easier to access.
2005: Various gangs begin the fight for control over the newly opened underground cannabis market.
April 23, 2009: Just a few days before my arrival in Christiania a hand grenade was thrown at a crowded café. A young man's chin was blown off and several others were injured.
Christiania is a perfect example of an idealistic society gone awry through increasing sanctions from outside parties and a lack of internal control. These people literally tossed a bunch of potheads together and wound up with some pretty art, yoga stretches, and decent music if you are stoned. However, this free love has culminated in violence, pollution, and hypocrisy.
Despite its being a car free zone there are over a hundred car owners residing in Christiania. Many welfare, homeless, addicts, and single mothers find refuge within the city. I did not spot any large gardens full of vegetables and fruits in order to sustain its residents. No butcher signs or cattle ranches on this island. One can only conclude that as independent as they believe themselves to be many if not most of the Christianites are dependent upon the hard working citizens of Copenhagen and Denmark as a whole. They seem to reap the benefits of those who produce the most output while not giving much back as input. They are smoking, dancing, and drinking on the Danish kroner of others. Sounds like someone needs to grow up and get a job.
Drugs tend to breed a culture of lazy, self indulgent adults. The "love thy land" hippies of yester year have been replaced by littering, too cool for school rebels. The art community still thrives and seems to shine through the thick smoke clouds but it's no Louvre.
All in all the wild atmosphere with its Scottish rap outfit performing and awkward Dane on the accordion could not outweigh the fear I had of tripping on a dead dog and falling on a bed of needles and broken glass. I left for greener pastures and normalcy. Ironic since there were signs that read "Normalia".
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