Demos staged for legalisation of cannabis in Hungary

Counter-demonstrators disrupted several protests demanding the legalisation of soft drugs on Budapest's Margaret Island and in Debrecen, Szombathely, Nyíregyháza, Pécs and Szeged on Sunday. The event was organized by the Hempseed Society as part of the international Global Marijuana March, with the New Generation of the Free Democrats also participating.

Debrecen residents foiled the demonstration, aided by town council members. Local police acknowledged the demonstration on May 3, but the mayor's office urban development department on May 9 issued a letter refusing to consent to the erection of a stage "for road maintenance reasons."

Meanwhile Jobbik Magyarországért Movement Supporters disrupted the Szeged demonstration with whistling and heckling, while several people were escorted off Margaret Island by security guards.

Fidesz said "he who says yes to drugs, says no to a life worthy of man." The Christian Democratic People's Party youth section also condemned the liberalisation of soft drugs.

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