– With us, there is not so much cocaine, but there is a lot of hashish

The short version

• Young people in Oslo are experiencing increased normalization of drugs such as cannabis.
• Astrid Rossavik, a student at Foss upper secondary school, says that hashish is often present at parties, but does not feel pressure to try it herself.
• According to Ungdata, every fourth boy in the 3rd grade at upper secondary school used hashish last year.
• Some young people in Oslo think the focus should be more on heavy and health-threatening drugs, than on cannabis.
• FpU leader Simen Velle’s openness about drug addiction can normalize the conversation about drugs and prevent stigma.

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On Wednesday, FpU leader Simen Velle opened up in VG about a pre-trial motion and a sentence for drug use in the teens. Once for cannabis, which he used regularly for periods, and once for cannabis and cocaine, which he says he has tried twice.

Velle is by no means alone in having used cannabis as a teenager. Every fourth third-year high school boy had tried or used hashish last year. It shows figures from Ungdata:

– With us, there is not so much cocaine, but there is a lot of hashish use. There’s a bit of that Grünerløkka reputation, says Rossavik, who is in his first year of the music major at Foss upper secondary school in Oslo.

Rossavik says that she often comes across weed at parties, and it is more normal for someone to smoke weed than no one.

Although she does not use the drug herself, she feels that it is the new normal. And she has been offered.

– I find it a bit uncomfortable. If someone starts smoking weed, I walk away a bit, she says.

At gatherings, she tries to keep her distance, but at the same time she doesn’t feel that there is any pressure. Rossavik finds that those in her social circle are open to the fact that hashish is not for everyone.

– I often think “Oh, yes.” It’s stupid for you.” But I think at the same time it’s not such a big deal. I will not be violated, she says.

Rossavik is from Nordstrand in Oslo, and she has the impression that there young people start using drugs such as cocaine already in the 8th grade.

Rossavik looks on in pleasant surprise Simen Velles openness. She is around the same age as when Velle himself was convicted of cannabis use.

She is particularly impressed because she believes that such a realization could, in the worst case, ruin his reputation.

– He just could never say anything about it. Then they found out when he was 40 and an adult politician, she says.

Also read: Svenneby on Velle’s drug admission: – More qualified to sit in the Storting

– Good friends don’t push

Tharun Satheeskumar (21), Jalan Kamalanathan (22) and Zain Raja Hameed (22) say that narcotic substances such as cocaine and cannabis are widespread in the environment.

Cocaine is often widespread at parties, where young people find it easier to try the drug under the influence of alcohol.

– Cocaine is a bigger problem in terms of health. And it is much more dangerous when you mix it with alcohol as well, which is perhaps the most common, says Satheeskumar.

They learn that Norway has strict rules when it comes to hash smoking, and comparisons with the United States, where a number of states have legalized marijuana.

– One should rather focus more on the heavy and health-threatening drugs. Cannabis can be taken a little easier, says Satheeskumar.

Their advice is to distance yourself from those who use drugs if you do not want to be around them yourself.

– It is quite easy to say no, and we have managed to say no, but it is everywhere, obviously, but it is easy to distance yourself if you want to, says Satheeskumar.

– Good friends who get high, they don’t push it on you.

The young men think Velle made a good chess move by coming forward now.

– Many young people in Oslo have been around cannabis. He was caught, unfortunately for him, but that shouldn’t have anything to do with his future because it doesn’t hinder him as a politician, says Satheeskumar.

He describes Velle as clever and a politician he has seen a lot of.

– He has also been convicted of it, so he has taken his punishment. Now he has moved on in the right direction, and into social policy. He is trying to create a change for people like him, he says.

His friend Hameed agrees. Velle is smart for opening up, he believes.

– Especially young people can feel themselves again. I think it was wise of him, he says.