Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams visits 'marijuana haven'
Publisher: Jon Land 06/07/2006 - Pop star Robbie Williams has sparked controversy by visiting an area of Denmark where the smoking of marijuana is actively encouraged.
The singer, a role model to millions of youngsters, took a stroll through Copenhagen's Commune of Freetown Christiana - where the drug is used openly - during a break in touring.
As he walked through the section nicknamed 'Pusher Street', people saw his minders talking into their radios and assumed it was a police raid.
Once regulars realised who Robbie was they welcomed him into the controversial centre, which the Danish Government is frequently threatening to shut down because of its drugs trade.
During his visit, the star splashed out on a sweatshirt with the words 'Bevar Christiana', meaning 'Save Christiana', on the front.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "There has been a lot of tension between the authorities and the residents recently and Robbie's visit caused a scene.
"But people soon recognised who he was and he was made welcome. He walked around and chatted to locals."
Robbie Williams is no stranger to courting controversy over his past drug use.
The pop star angered anti-drug campaigners by saying he'd enjoyed the best times of his life while high on cocaine.
He said in a radio interview: "Some of the best times in my life happened under the influence of drugs. I'm not saying 'go out and do drugs, kids,' but I enjoyed them.
"I'd still be doing it if I could make good judgement calls. I'd still be doing it if I didn't blow up to the size of an aircraft hangar, you know, because it was a great time."
Christiania is an autonomous community that started 33 years ago following the civil occupation of an unused area, then owned by the Ministry of Defence.
Christianites are encouraged to live a socially active and responsible existence.
Most of the 800 inhabitants know each other and help with everything from house construction to talking confidentially.
Christiania also attracts a large number of people from the surrounding city who do not feel comfortable in modern society.
Since its birth, Christiania has been associated with rebellion against the prevailing system, and for just as long, it has experimented with new forms of democracy and ways of self-government.
Based on the idea of maximizing freedom and giving power to the individual, Christiania has organised itself into a number of councils.
While there are no laws, there are a few prohibitions: No hard drugs, no weapons, no violence, no trading with buildings or residential areas.
Marijuana has been an integral part of Christiania from the very start. During the late 1990s sales to visitors accelerated and it became a multi-million business, drawing much attention from the rest of Christiania.
Early this year, however, the pushers cleared the street where they sold their wares, and the police, furthermore, arrested many of their number.
This, of course, does not mean the market for marijuana in Denmark has disappeared; the trade has just moved to other places in Copenhagen.
Early on, Christiania realised that hard drugs could destroy its fragile society, and the inhabitants simply expelled vendors of anything other than marijuana.
This has been respected ever since, and Christiania is the only place in Denmark where such drugs are not sold.
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