Copenhagen’s new Lord Mayor, Sisse Marie Welling, wants to make it legal to buy, possess and use cannabis for personal use in the Danish capital. The goal is to move sales away from criminal networks and into a state-controlled system.
The proposal has broad support in Copenhagen’s city council. But at Christiansborg, where Danish national politics decides the issue, the idea still faces resistance from the Social Democrats. The party’s justice spokesperson, Lea Wermelin, rejects both legalization and allowing Copenhagen to become a pilot city.
Wants to take the market away from criminals
Welling argues that the current ban means large sums of money continue to flow to organized crime. Her position is that the state should instead take control of sales, in much the same way several other countries have begun regulating cannabis.
Copenhagen has pushed the issue several times before. As early as 2023, the City Council approved a new request to the government to let Copenhagen become a pilot city for a three-year model of controlled legalization. That decision passed by 45 votes to 10.
Get the week’s important news from Cannabis.se in your inbox — interesting weekend reading! 🥦✉️
Germany is being used as an example
The debate in Denmark is clearly being influenced by developments in Germany. There, adults are now allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public, grow up to three plants at home, and keep up to 50 grams of dried cannabis in their residence.
German cultivation associations are also allowed to operate within specific limits, including a maximum of 500 members. The model has been justified on the grounds of better control, public health protection and reduced income for the illegal market.
Danish law remains unchanged
In Denmark, it is still illegal to use or possess cannabis, except for medical use prescribed through doctors and pharmacies. Violations result in at least a fine.
That means Copenhagen cannot introduce a local model on its own. For the capital to become a pilot city, a national decision in the Danish Parliament is required. And even though several governing and supporting parties are positive toward some form of decriminalization or legalization, the Social Democrats’ opposition is currently blocking the issue.
The issue is likely to return
Copenhagen’s position is clear: the city wants to test a regulated model in which the state takes control away from the black market. At the same time, the resistance in Parliament shows that Denmark is still far from a national shift.
For the cannabis debate in the Nordic region, Copenhagen is therefore becoming an important political barometer. The municipality says yes, but the state still says no.
Swedish party leaders say no, as expected
On June 27, during the political event Almedalen Week, the newspaper Expressen asked Swedish party leaders whether they want to legalize cannabis. Of course they said no. The biggest donkey is probably Liberal Party leader Simona Mohamsson, who has previously written opinion pieces about legalizing cannabis. Let us hope the Liberals are kicked out of parliament and die as a party in September elections!
Source
Hash-hovedstad: Overborgmester vil have gjort cannabis lovligt i København
Sponsor: Sensi Seeds are one of Europe’s most recognized names in premium cannabis genetics, offering a wide selection of feminized, autoflowering, CBD-rich and F1 hybrid seeds for customers who want quality, consistency and choice.