The issue of drug legalization constantly raises discussions in the world community. There are countries and regions where they are allowed (in particular, some states in the USA, Uruguay), and places where marijuana is legalized only for medical purposes and is imprisoned for its use, storage and distribution.
The only free country for hemp products in Europe is the Netherlands. Prague is called the "second Amsterdam" because of the prevalence and availability of narcotic substances in this city, despite the official prohibition on their sale.
What are coffee shops and why are they allowed
Coffeeshops are stores and bars where cannabis and the smoking blends made from it are legally sold. The most widespread such institutions were in the Netherlands.
The existence of coffee shops is often criticized sharply, but their owners argue their position on the content of such outlets. They sell only soft drugs and in limited quantities, the manufacturer notifies them of their composition and is responsible for providing incorrect information. That is, coffee shop advocates believe that it is safer to buy hemp in stores than chemical heavy drugs of unknown composition from dealers on the streets.
These establishments are the only place in the Netherlands where cannabis is allowed to be bought and consumed. According to politicians, the opening of such stores will attract some illegal sellers to the region controlled by government officials and reduce the volume of shadow trade.
What restrictions are provided in coffee shops?
The operation of such stores is regulated by law.
In coffee shops it is forbidden:
- advertise hallucinogenic substances;
- sell goods to minors;
- sell more than 5 g per customer;
- allow violation of order.
Shops with narcotic substances cannot be located less than 250 m from children's educational institutions.
There are no hard hallucinogenic drugs in them; one of the institution’s ideas is to protect smokers of “weed” from the influence of drug addicts dependent on cocaine and other heavy substances.
Prague and Amsterdam: what is the difference
Many tourists, for whom a trip to Amsterdam is too expensive, wonders if there are coffee shops in Prague.
In the Czech capital, institutions with a similar name cannot be found, that is, there are no places where drugs are the only goods. But this does not mean that marijuana cannot be found in Prague.
Foreigners who want to find out the addresses of coffee shops in Prague can be sent to emigrants - most often these are gypsies or immigrants from Africa who sell marijuana, mushrooms and other hallucinogenic substances in the center of the capital, near tourist sites. Sellers themselves offer their products, so finding them is not difficult.
Local residents and tourists who came to the Czech Republic for the first time, if they do not cause suspicion from distributors, who are often waiters in bars, can buy marijuana in a cafe or club. As a rule, strangers do not offer smoking to such establishments. Sellers know their regular visitors and are guided by them.
In connection with regular operations carried out by law enforcement agencies, distributors are careful. Often, instead of a waiter, an external dealer is invited to the seller’s role, he sits at the table as a visitor and looks for potential customers.
Examples of establishments where cannabis, mushrooms, amphetamine, LSD and other similar substances are sold by acquaintance, according to tourists, are the Gross Club (Anenska, 197/1), the Reggae Bar Lounge, etc.
Due to the fact that, compared to Amsterdam, trade is illegal in places conventionally called coffee shops in Prague, the prices here are lower, which attracts tourists. But it is better to navigate the cost in advance, so as not to overpay street vendors.
Law and reality in the Czech Republic
There are no coffee shops for tourists in Prague because the sale of stupefying drugs is officially prohibited.
The law in the Czech Republic states that you can use drugs (due to the fact that a person has the right to control his health and body), you can also carry them with you in a limited amount (for different types of drugs the norm is set: from 1 g for cocaine to 15 g for marijuana). However, the storage of more drugs and their sale entail liability, in accordance with the norms of administrative and criminal law.
Thus, if a person smokes a jamb in which there is more cannabis than is allowed to be kept with him, he will be arrested, although smoking in itself is not prohibited.