This is perhaps a pipe dream which I have, but seeing as how the Czech Republic is a 3rd world country, they could benefit HUGELY by legalizing and regulating cannabis (eg. taxes, licenses-to-sell, etc). Should they ever do so, and their economy booms due to the increased revenue and tourism, and decreased enforcement, prosecution, and incarceration costs, perhaps other third world countries will do the same to help out their own economies. That way a global marijuana reform movement would be started without the need to the US to change their laws first.

But who am I kidding, as soon as the other EU members and other so called 'progressive' countries hear of this, they will quash this immediately by threating Czech or any other country with sanctions. :-(

Dear Anonymous
The Czech Republic is not a third world country.
In fact our economy is the best in the Europe.Hows your economy at the moment?
Seems you are actualy the third world country, oh yeah i forgot you guys have all that freedom your spreeding worldwide.

We also have the fastest growing currency in the world.
How is your dollar doing at the moment????

Seems it's in the toilet and all you fat idiots can do is order more stuff from China ad shop at wal mart.
We also have free health care for everyone that lives here.
Don't get sick in your country unless you have good insurance and then they will probably tell you that your not covered becauseyou had a pre existing condition.
The world is sitting and watching and laughing as your country is failing in more ways than one.
Third world country sounds a lot like Amerika glad i don't live there.

You need to check your facts before your mouth overloads your ass.
The Czech Republc is NOT a third world country we don't accept dollars here and pretty soon no one will.
Please do not come visit as we wouldn't want to have to lend you any money for food coupons for your vacation.
idiot

Dear Anonymous
The Czech Republic is not a third world country.
In fact our economy is the best in the Europe.Hows your economy at the moment?
Seems you are actualy the third world country, oh yeah i forgot you guys have all that freedom your spreeding worldwide.

We also have the fastest growing currency in the world.
How is your dollar doing at the moment????
Let me help you here in the last five years it has lost i repeat lost 62% of it's value against the Czech Crown and 50% againstnmost every currency traded in the world.

Seems it's in the toilet and all you fat idiots can do is order more stuff from China and shop at wal mart.

We also have free health care for everyone that lives here.
Don't get sick in your country unless you have good insurance and then they will probably tell you that your not covered because you had a pre existing condition.

The world is sitting and watching and laughing as your country is crashing int a fourth world country in more ways than one.
Third world country sounds a lot like Amerika glad i don't live there.

You need to check your facts before your mouth overloads your ass.
The Czech Republc is NOT a third world country we don't accept dollars here and pretty soon no one will.
Please do not come visit as we wouldn't want to have to lend you any money for food coupons for your vacation.
and yes you can walk down the street here and smoke a joint.
no one cares and why shold they it's just some weed.
no mandatory minimum, no can we search your car,
no just a free country one that over 17million people came to visit last year and spent over 20 billion British Pounds in direct foriegn investment.
third world my ass
try one world you stupid american one where we don't listen to stupid americans

Legalize it --

I agree with your bottom line: legalize marijuana. Period.

But ... I also agree that you have no clue about Czech Republic. Wow.

You are probably a resident of the United States. Me too, and because of that: your ignorance is very embarrassing to me.

Europe is waaay ahead of us in the United States on most social policy issues. This includes the Czech Republic (a country in Europe <-- for American readers).

However, we must all ask ourselves why this statement of 'Legalize it' sounds correct:

"But who am I kidding, as soon as the other EU members and other so called 'progressive' countries hear of this, they will quash this immediately by threating Czech or any other country with sanctions. :-("

The current government of the United States is the primary force behind sanctions against any country that tries to legalize drugs. This also is very embarrassing to me.

Americans need to stop being drug war and social idiots ... and Europeans need to stop being so wimpy, so they can grow the balls to make it happen. :)

--Mojo the Mellow

...and pressure has been mounting for years for an adjustment in the law...

I have question about that "pressure", what kind of pressure? By who? Is there any articles or websites in english about that?

Greetings from Estonia :)

Drug prohibition is definitely a product of rich civilizations that are able to spend inordinate amounts of time, money and resources on something so completely un-threatening as drugs. Not to mention the vast losses to happiness and spiritual development. In a very strained economy where basic survival becomes the issue the WoD would be the first to lose budget, because ultimately it's based on unreality..

That said the Czech Republic is not a 3rd world country. It's an "old Communist country", old being the operative word. When I visited Pragh more than 5 years ago I found it almost indistiguishable from any other European country (having visited Great Britain, Germany, France, Norway and Holland too - and I'm a citizen of Denmark). It seemed to be a very modern nation, and the recent decriminalization has definitely hastened my return to this wonderful, civilized country :o)

The fact is that any country could realize wonderful benefits from declaring peace on the drugs. May no country experience things like The murder of Ashley ... http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2998.html

I too would like to know more about the specific nature of the pressure that's beeing mounting for legalization in the Czech Republic. Maybe we could learn something from this succes?

The Czech guy's bullyragging comments to the earnest American about the status of The Czech republic as third world or not was disgraceful.
This is the type of nationalist pride that is ruining the planet. He is obviously clueless about the real merits of intellectual debate: To look clearly at issues you need to stop viewing the world as an emotional soccer match. Stop singing national anthems when you're told to, guy.
But to adress the issues: The U.S. is a first world economy slowly going down the toilet. But not anytime soon. I'm thinking between five to seven years this place will look like Mexico does now. So live it up folks--then move to Slovakia or the Czech republic! I'd be there now if it weren't for the rotten winters in that part of the world.
Someone told me a few nights ago that in London they've stopped accepting u.s. dollars. I have yet to research this but it wouldn't surprise me.

The Czech Republic should be congratulated for the example it sets for the rest of Europe and the World.

People with the guts to stand up and push the envelope of freedom against the Soviets (albeit resulting in the Warsaw Pact Invasion of 1968), only to win out in the Velvet Revolution in 1989, deserve credit as true freedom fighters.

The election of poet, writer and lifelong Frank Zappa fan, Vaclav Havel as president, established the sanctity of the Czech appreciation for a progressive and tolerant society guided by intelligent leaders.  The Czechs brew the best Pilsner in the world.  And Czech women are hot.

Standing up to the drug warriors should be a walk in the park for the Czechs after what the country has already been through with the Nazis and communists.

Giordano

Czech is the best :D

Just a quick comment to all US readers. The Czech Republic currently has the strongest economy in all of europe and its currency has killed the dollar in the last five years. five years ago a us dollar bought you 35 Kc, now it is down to 16 Kc . Also I know a lot of czechs buying summer homes in Florida because the housing market is such shit in the US. But besides everything else, it is simply great to live here and not be in constant fear for smoking something that has less harmful side effects than alcohol. Land of the Free:) Any American who came to visit Prague would learn very quickly that Prague is a very normal european capitol city (third most visited country in europe after london, and paris) , the "third world country" comment is laughable.