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Christiania Residents Begin Transformation to Eliminate Illegal Hashish Market

In a symbolic move, Christiania's community members started dismantling Pusher Street, aiming to rebuild the area without its notorious drug trade.

Image
Police clear booths used to sell cannabis from an area known as "Pusher Street" early in the morning in Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 6, 2024.
Mayor of Copenhagen Sophie Haestorp Andersen and Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard hold a cobble stone removed by residents from the area of Freetown Christiania known as the "Pusher Street" on Saturday.
Citizens of the free village Christiania jointly dig up the cobblestones at Pusher Street, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday April 6, 2024. After the cobblestones are removed, new water pipes and a new pavement will be laid on Pusher Street and nearby buildings will be renovated. That is the first step in an overall plan to turn the hippie oasis into an integrated part of the Danish capital area, although “the free state" spirit of creativity and community life is to be maintained. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Overview

  • Residents of Christiania, a historic hippie enclave in Copenhagen, have started tearing up Pusher Street to signal the end of the illegal hashish market.
  • The initiative, supported by local and national authorities, aims to renovate the area and integrate it into Copenhagen while preserving its unique community spirit.
  • The Danish government has offered financial support for the renovation, contingent on the removal of the illegal drug market.
  • Community members hope the transformation will attract younger families and revitalize the area, maintaining its artistic and cultural essence.
  • The move comes after years of drug-related violence and tension, with residents and authorities seeking a safer, crime-free environment.