‘Push Street’ was famous for freely selling cannabis. But now, the residents of Denmark’s Christiania hippie enclave have decided to take back control of it.
Residents of Christiania started over the weekend to remove the cobblestones at what is known as ‘Pusher Street,’ the illicit cannabis trade hub of Christiania, with the aim of ridding the neighborhood of criminal gangs associated with the illegal cannabis trade, which has caused several fatal shootings.
Christiania is unique in Europe. This enclave, nestled in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, was established by a group of hippies and anarchists who squatted former army barracks in the 1970s.
The Danish authorities tolerated the illegal sale of cannabis for over 50 years. However, internal pressure to end this situation gradually grew over time due to violent clashes between criminal gangs vying for control over the illicit sale of cannabis and other drugs, as well as police efforts to shut down these illicit activities.
But now, authorities and residents of Christiania have decided to collaborate and remove the cobblestones at Pusher Street as a symbolic act of rebuilding the commune. After this, they can access government funds allocated for the area’s renovation.
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard, who attended the ceremony, said lifting cobblestones from the infamous street carries significant symbolism, as reported by AP News.
The plan of this initiative is to establish a renewed Christiania without the illegal cannabis market. After removing the cobblestones, new water pipes will be installed, and the street will be repaved. Furthermore, nearby buildings will undergo renovation.
This marks the initial phase of a comprehensive plan to integrate the hippie enclave into the wider Danish capital area while preserving the spirit of creativity and community life characteristic of “the free state.”
Residents of Christiania have long tolerated criminal gangs in their neighborhood. However, the situation has escalated over the years and become increasingly violent.
In 2016, tensions escalated significantly when a police officer was shot in the head at close range on Pusher Street. In 2023, another murder carried out in execution-style occurred at Stjerneskibet café, located next to the main strip, and was connected to Danish biker gangs.
Despite often being in conflict with authorities and resisting efforts to shut down Pusher Street, this latest event has led residents to call for the end of illicit cannabis sales and agree with authorities on the common goal of pushing criminal gangs out of Christiania once and for all.
In an effort to liberate Christiania from criminal gangs, residents of Christiania barred in August non-residents from entering the free city for a day by blockading Pusher Street with shipping containers and concrete blocks. However, the dealers soon returned.
In the same year, Copenhagen police arrested roughly 900 individuals for drug trafficking but did not disclose specific quantities of seized drugs.
In March 2024, residents of Christiania agreed to accept financial aid from the government to redevelop the area and curb its drug trade. The Danish government put over $2.1 million in renewal funding on the table, contingent upon the removal and prohibition of illegal cannabis sales, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
Today, about 1,000 residents, including 250 children, live in the graffiti-covered barracks and wooden cottages of Christiania. With its music venues, cafes, and souvenir shops, this enclave attracts about half a million tourists every year, making it one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
The notoriety of Christiania has been fueled in part by the sale of cannabis, but now that era is expected to draw to an end.