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Young People in Bratislava Call for Decriminalization of Marijuana
Thursday 17 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - A few hundred young people gathered in front of Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Thursday to call on Slovak authorities to decriminalize the use of marijuana.
Organisers, promoting the idea of Slovakia being more tolerant towards consumption of marijuana, decided not to march across the city centre, as they had originally planned, and moved only to the nearby Namestie Slobody where several speeches were delivered.
"We don't want to live in fear" and "for green Slovakia" were among the slogans chanted by the group of marijuana-use supporters, who claim they don't like the current legislation. They say it turns decent hard-working people and students into criminals only because they smoke pot. One of the speakers pointed out that around 30 percent of young people have experience with pot use, and the repression and prohibition does little to deter people from smoking it.
The event was watched over by some 220 police, who have reported six arrests. "Two of them for holding melee weapons, one for promoting movements suppressing minorities, plus four others were arrested in order to have their identity checked," said Bratislava Regional Police spokesman Frantisek Peczar, who did not specify whether those arrested were part of the demonstration or were among the right-wing extremists who came to protest against the pro-marijuana rally. Police say they will be keeping an eye on the happening until it ends, and warned that anyone in possession of psychotrophic substances will be arrested.
The presence of the rightist extremists groups wasn't announced in advance, according to Bratislava Old Town spokesperson Alena Koprivova. Leader of extremist movement Slovak Togetherness (Slovenska Pospolitost) Ivan Sykora was also present on the square.
No clashes between the participants were reported.
The rally had special significance as SaS (Freedom and Solidarity), the second-largest party in the expected coalition, campaigned for decriminalisation of marijuana.
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