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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Czech Republic: Czech Police Crack Down on One-Stop Marijuana Shops Sean Carney Wall Street Journal Tuesday 05 Nov 2013 PRAGUE—Czech police this week began their first-ever nationwide raids on businesses that sell equipment for growing and using cannabis, an unexpected move in a country where the medical use of marijuana became legal in April and enjoys strong support. The raids are targeting one-stop shops where customers can purchase everything they need to produce marijuana as well as "obtain instructions on how to grow and use the drug," said Ivana Jezkova, a police spokeswoman. The police have launched more than 50 criminal proceedings since Monday, centered on charges of spreading drug addiction. Several people were detained, some overnight, but so far all have been released, said Jan Danihelka, a lawyer representing some of those involved in the crackdown. The police wouldn't say Tuesday how many people had been detained, but did say the raids could continue for several weeks. So far they have all been outside the capital, Prague. The Czech Republic, like other European countries, has long tolerated individual use of marijuana and in 2010 decriminalized possession of small amounts. However, a full range of products and services for growing and using cannabis cannot legally be sold at one location. The police argue the current raids are in line with a year-old Supreme Court ruling that stated that owners and operators of such shops are engaged in an unlawful act. Police in some cases have seized assets including automobiles owned by targeted businesses, and have searched some suspects' homes as well, Mr. Danihelka said. The raids come just days ahead of Cannafest Prague, one of Europe's largest cannabis-industry trade fairs, which attracts roughly 22,000 visitors annually. Mr. Danihelka and others said law enforcement efforts may be aimed at discouraging businesses from participating in the fair in Prague this weekend. The police have "declared war against marijuana," said Jiri X. Dolezal, a cannabis proponent. Ms. Jezkova rejected the charge, saying the raids weren't "in any way timed with the trade fair," but had been prepared "well in advance." The trade fair is held around the same time each year. Lukas Behal, the Cannafest director, said some Czech exhibitors have canceled their participation already due to the police having seized their wares, including lighting systems, fertilizers and literature on cannabis use in palliative medicine. "The raids will of course have some minor impact, but the trade fair will continue as planned," Mr. Behal said, adding that as in previous years the organizers and police cooperate to ensure no laws are broken. Exhibitors from 120 countries take part in the fair, which also features three days of lectures from prominent researchers, doctors and activists. Write to Sean Carney at sean.carney@wsj.com http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303936904579180103400056052
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