Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, recently appointed as the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing (Social- og Boligminister), has been a strong advocate for the legalization of cannabis during her tenure as the Mayor of Copenhagen (Overborgmester i Københavns Kommune). On Tuesday, she visited Christiania, a famous alternative community and cultural district in Copenhagen known for its liberal approach to drug use, and reiterated her support for pilot projects aimed at legalizing cannabis in the city.

However, as a new minister, she intends to adopt a more cautious public stance regarding this issue. “My position from two days ago at Christiania regarding legalization and the desire for a trial in Copenhagen remains firm, but now I am part of a government collaboration and must respect the established policy,” stated Sophie Hæstorp Andersen during her ministerial handover on Thursday.

Earlier this year, she announced that the City of Copenhagen aimed to implement a pilot project allowing citizens to possess cannabis and hard drugs for personal use. Nevertheless, Hæstorp Andersen emphasizes that her views remain unchanged, despite her new ministerial role requiring a different kind of loyalty to the government’s framework. “I have not retracted anything. My opinions have not changed from when I was Mayor to now as a minister. When you are part of the government, you support the common agenda, but that does not alter my commitment to advocate for my views,” she said.

Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, who has experience as the chairperson of the Capital Region (Region Hovedstaden) and as a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), was elected as Mayor in 2021. She now takes over the position as Minister for Social Affairs and Housing from her party colleague Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil.