In Czech Republic one can smoke since 1 January marijuana, without having fear of the police. The government determined borders, with which drug possession is no longer criminally pursued to the internal requirement - and releases with it allegedly concern with the neighboring countries.

Prague - the catalog of the permitted one reads itself for proponents and opponents of the drug release impressing: 15 gram marijuana, 1 gram cocaine, 1.5 gram heroin, 4 Ecstasy pills, 5 units LSD, 2 gram of Amphetamine and so on. During the definition of the maximum quantities one has oriented to it, as native courts defined the term “internal requirement”, said itself law minister Daniela Kovarova. Also on the paper Czech Republic thereby has one of the most liberal drug laws of Europe. Since 1 January are for the first time concrete borders determined, with which drug possession is not to be criminally pursued to the internal requirement any longer.

In the Prager city centre gives it for a long time more than one dozen to Etablissements named “Reggae bar” or “Ujezd”, in which already for many years - often only hundred meters removes from the next police station - which use and also the sale of so-called soft drugs was tolerated.

“Erstmal a drink order, then again it asks”, says the Barkeeper in the “Chapeau Rouge” when a new guest would like to know whether he “something to smoke buy” could. The Dealer waits then with the toilets. Before the novella it was valid in Czech Republic that “small quantities” of drugs were tolerated by national side - only nobody knew, how much actually meant the “small quantity”. The retail trade in the relevant restaurants ran to a large extent undisturbed, to “legalizes marijuana” - demonstration annually at the beginning of May thousands of humans met.

Austria and Germany are to be afraid of the new regulation

The statistics of the European Union find a clear language for situation: According to annual report 2009 of the European monitoring centre EBDD between 15 and 24 years already at least once in the life illegal anaesthetics tried 44 per cent out of the Czechs - that is European maximum value. Characteristic on the Czech drug market are Methamphetamine (as “Ice” or “Crystal” well-known), which more strongly than Amphetamine to work and from Czech Republic increasingly also abroad are brought, writes the EBDD.

Newspapers in Prague reported that in Austria and Germany the new maximum quantities woke fears of increased drug smuggling. “The new regulation prepares large concerns”, said therefore for instance the Austrian interior minister Maria Fekter. Also at the German-Czech border additional controls are planned, wrote the civil sheet “Lidove noviny”. In traditionally the liberal Czech Republic moved however hardly protest, the drug trade continues to stand under punishment, stresses politicians.

The drug advisory boards commentate the new guidelines from two different view. “Decriminalization is naturally positive”, says about Jiri judge of the organization Sananim, but still worry the state not enough about prevention and assistance. Also the relief organization drop in an insufficient care offer for drug-addicted, which is far from the measures in Western Europe distant, criticizes.

Each Czech citizen may besides five hemp plants legally grow let. The government expects first results in addition, how the new regulations affect the drug scene, up to the autumn.