1,500 marijuana legalisation supporters gather at Letna Park

Hundreds of supporters in favour of the legalisation of marijuana gathered in Prague on Saturday both at the historic Old Town Square and later at Letna Park overlooking the city. The event included the sale of beer and performances by live bands. The march was held as part of the Global Million Marihuana March which includes a number of cities. It is the tenth time the event has taken place in Prague. During that period, observers say, Czech attitudes towards marijuana have changed; organisers of the march point to 2005 as a key year when even a number of political figures reportedly admitted to having tried the drug. But many experts disagree with legalisation, pointing to potentially harmful effects. According to EU statistics some 22 percent of young Czechs have tried marijuana, a figure that is about ten percent higher than the European Union average.