• Dutch government decrees that all cannabis cafes are off-limits to tourists .
    93 replies, posted
[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/27/netherlands-cannabis-cafes-off-limits-tourists?INTCMP=SRCH[/url] [quote]Long famous for "coffee shops" where joints and cappuccinos share the menu, the Netherlands' famed tolerance for drugs could be going up in smoke. A judge on Friday upheld a government plan to ban non-Dutch residents from buying cannabis by introducing a "weed pass" available only to residents. The regulation reins in one of the best known symbols of the country's reputation of tolerance. For many tourists visiting Amsterdam, smoking a joint in a canalside coffee shop ranks alongside visiting the Van Gogh Museum on their must-do list. Friday's ruling by a judge at The Hague district court clears the way for the weed pass to be introduced in southern provinces on 1 May. The new law, which will turn coffee shops into private clubs with membership open only to Dutch residents and limited to 2,000 per shop – will roll out in the rest of the country, including Amsterdam, next year. Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan is hoping to hammer out a compromise with the national government. Coffee shops are also resisting the change. Maurice Veldman, a lawyer representing owners, said he would file an appeal against the ruling. The most recent figures from the government say the country has more than 650 coffee shops, 214 of them in Amsterdam. The number has been steadily declining with the imposition of tougher regulations, such as closing shops close to schools. But the new membership rules are the most significant move in many years. The government argues that it needs to crack down on so-called "drug tourists" – effectively couriers who drive over the border from neighbouring Belgium and Germany to buy large amounts of cannabis, which they resell at home. They are said to cause traffic and public order problems in towns along the Dutch border. Such issues do not exist in Amsterdam, where most tourists walk or ride bikes and buy drugs purely for their own consumption. City spokeswoman Tahira Limon said the weed pass "doesn't solve any problems we have here and it could create new problems". She said four to five million tourists visit Amsterdam each year and about 23% say they visit a coffee shop during their stay. Amsterdam argues that the reasons coffee shops were first tolerated decades ago are still relevant – they are well-regulated havens where people can buy soft drugs without coming into contact with dealers of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Coffee shops cannot serve alcohol or sell drugs to people under 18. The government said on Friday that there would be no exceptions to the new rules. "Amsterdam will also have to enforce this policy," said Job van de Sande, a spokesman for the ministry of security and justice. The conservative Dutch government said it wants the shops to revert to what they were originally intended to be: small local stores selling to local people. However, the Dutch government collapsed this week and new elections are scheduled for September. It is unclear whether the new administration will keep the new measures in place. Veldman called Friday's court ruling a political judgment. He said: "The judge completely fails to answer the principal question: Can you discriminate against foreigners when there is no public order issue at stake?" Coffee shop owners in the southern city of Maastricht have said they plan to disregard the new measures, forcing the government to prosecute one of them in a test case[/quote]
That's really silly, they had such a good thing going.
Going to hurt their local business badly. Also going to hurt the government too with the lack of taxes being made i guess. So stupid.
And now a lot of folk will just turn back to illegal dealers since coffee shops are now members only and have a cap to how many members they can have.
This is quite a step backwards in my opinion. Now tourists will just get it the way that underage teens get alcohol.
Are their cheap window whores still available? [editline]28th April 2012[/editline] That [i]might[/i] give me a reason to go.
well there goes all my friends' holiday plans.
[QUOTE=IForgotPassword;35740682]This is quite a step backwards in my opinion. Now tourists will just get it the way that underage teens get alcohol.[/QUOTE] What tourists?
Why would they do this? [quote]The government argues that it needs to crack down on so-called "drug tourists" – effectively couriers who drive over the border from neighbouring Belgium and Germany to buy large amounts of cannabis, which they resell at home. They are said to cause traffic and public order problems in towns along the Dutch border.[/quote]Can our Dutch users confirm such allegations?
This just in: Tourism to Amsterdam drops 400% :v:
Way to be progressive, NETHERLANDS. Say good bye to all your tourism. [editline]28th April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Killer900;35740858]Why would they do this? Can our Dutch users confirm such allegations?[/QUOTE] I'm not from anywhere around there but I've talked to a few people from neighboring countries that have done this. There's very good money in it, and honestly, who doesn't want a parting gift? Doesn't make it any less of a stupid reason to ban tourists from the bars. It's just fucking pot, not like it's ever hurt anyone.
[QUOTE=mugofdoom;35740899]Way to be progressive, Denmark. Say good bye to all your tourism.[/QUOTE] Dutch =/= Denmark. This is the Netherlands, that country next to Belgium and Germany.
[QUOTE=GodKing;35740754]What tourists?[/QUOTE] the tourists
Another reason to dislike the dutch. Guess I'll visit California now.
Oh good, those weed tourists are annoying as hell. I hope the stores won't lose too much profits now, though.
Now as tourists are closed off from purchasing cannabis...mass immigration as people start applying for residency.
[QUOTE=Megafan;35740940]Dutch =/= Denmark. This is the Netherlands, that country next to Belgium and Germany.[/QUOTE] Ah, my mistake. I don't know why I was thinking Denmark. These tiny, European countries always get mixed up in my head. Fuck it then, I'm just going to head over to Christiania to get my weed.
[QUOTE=mugofdoom;35740899]Way to be progressive, Denmark. Say good bye to all your tourism. [/QUOTE] you're about 300 miles off.
Yes I have been made aware of my mistake. It shall not happen again.
I'm going there in two months, I was looking forward to visiting coffee shops. I heard that it was only going to be enforced at the end of the year, so maybe I'll get to experience it.
Why does Facepunch love weed so much? I'd just like to know.
[QUOTE=mugofdoom;35740899]Way to be progressive, Denmark. Say good bye to all your tourism.[/QUOTE] err
[QUOTE=FingerSpazem;35740950]the tourists[/QUOTE] The mass of tourists who flock there for this very reason. [editline]28th April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Reds;35741082]Why does Facepunch love weed so much? I'd just like to know.[/QUOTE] Try it and find out?
[QUOTE=Reds;35741082]Why does Facepunch love weed so much? I'd just like to know.[/QUOTE] Facepunch tends to swing more to the left politically and left wing people are probably more likely to smoke weed than right wing people? I don't know I didn't know facepunch loved weed
[QUOTE=Reds;35741082]Why does Facepunch love weed so much? I'd just like to know.[/QUOTE] try it and you'll know
[QUOTE=GodKing;35741092]The mass of tourists who flock there for this very reason.[/QUOTE] you make no sense
[QUOTE=Reds;35741082]Why does Facepunch love weed so much? I'd just like to know.[/QUOTE] Get high and you'll see why people enjoy it.
[QUOTE=FingerSpazem;35741107]you make no sense[/QUOTE] He makes plenty of sense. Every time people talk about going to Amsterdam it's for the weed and whores.
its times like these im thankful i live in california
[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;35741128]He makes plenty of sense. Every time people talk about going to Amsterdam it's for the weed and whores.[/QUOTE] He's right, there are a mass of tourists that go to amsterdam just to smoke weed but he said "what tourists" and I said "the tourists" and he responded to my post as if I said "what tourists" I don't get it
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