Tourists Banned From Dutch Cannabis Cafes

Tyron

Tyron

Tyron

Associate
Joined
14 Jul 2007
Posts
965
Foreign tourists will be banned from entering cannabis cafes in Amsterdam after a ruling by a Dutch judge.

The judge upheld a new law to stop foreign visitors from entering Holland's famous coffee shops - meaning they could be banned by the end of the year.

Under the new law, Dutch residents will still be allowed into the cafes, as long as they have valid identification, or possibly hold a new "weed pass".

The restrictions come amid concerns that tourists are visiting the country solely for drugs and that foreign dealers are selling illegally back at home.

The ban is due to start in three southern provinces next month, and go nationwide by the end of the year.

The new regulation reins in one of the country's most cherished symbols of tolerance - its laissez-faire attitude toward soft drugs.

For many tourists visiting Amsterdam, smoking a cannabis joint in a canal-side coffee shop ranks high on their to-do lists.

Relaxing outside The Bulldog, a coffee shop in downtown Amsterdam, Gavin Harrison and Ian Leigh of Northern Ireland said they hoped the city wouldn't change.

"I think it's going to be a shame for Amsterdam, I think it's going to lose a lot of tourists," Mr Harrison said.

Mr Leigh said he had been visiting Amsterdam for a decade and had noticed the erosion of tolerance over the years. "It's taking a step back," he said.

Coffee shop owners have not given up the fight.

A week ago they mustered a few hundred patrons for a "smoke-out" in downtown Amsterdam to protest the new restrictions.

A lawyer for the owners, Maurice Veldman, said he would file an appeal against the ruling by The Hague District court.

The ban will turn coffee shops into private clubs with membership open only to Dutch residents and limited to 2,000 per shop.

The Netherlands has more than 650 coffee shops, 214 of them in Amsterdam.
Recommended Stories

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16217800
Click to expand...
 
I don't get the argument about 'cross border trafficking' that was mentioned in the news report I listened to earlier. The amounts you buy from coffee shops hardly warrant the label of smuggling load of the century. They must be talking about something else?

Last time I went I smoked what ever I had left all in one go whilst sitting in the car waiting to board the ferry. Can you believe I slept the whole crossing and only woke up in Harwich? :o

I know many of the bars we went to were surprised and pleased when we asked if it was ok to 'smoke'. That we bothered to ask rather than assume, was a source of several friendly conversations over a beer and a chaser. Maybe if more visitors did the same there might not be such a problem?
I liked amsterdam, even if it was a little crazy at night. And here's something that spoke volumes about our 'sceptred isles' - the only time I was really uncomfortable over there was following a football match and having to mix with a lot of celtic fans; they did not make you feel safe or relaxed. Not so the dutch supporters.

If it's going to be an end of an era, it's going to be a sad one for me. I have happy memories of bumbling around amsterdam, stoned out of my box, going to see museums and art galleries, soaking up the atmosphere and chatting with some of the friendliest people I've met anywhere, including their policemen... they might have carried guns, but they had time to stop and chew the fat with with us britishers and wish us a pleasant day. I cannot think of that ever happening here.
 
This thread is about 18 hours late...

Anyway there's still another 8 months to go until its suppose to be implemented nationwide, so still some hope the ruling will be overturned.

Ive been to Amsterdam 8 times and if I wasn't going to be able to buy weed there, I would never have gone. Guess will have to start planning next trip soon. :D
 
Many coffee shop owners are saying they will ignore the law so that they have to be challenged in court. There is also a chance for appeal before this.
 
I doubt it will be enforced in big cities with many coffeeshops. Would take too much time for the police to go in to the shops and ask for id confirming if you are a Dutch national.
 
What are the shops supposed to do, how can they tell if you are a tourist?

If they ask where you are from just say you moved to the city yesterday...
 
Moses said:
Unless they had strict penalties for the shops. Like in the UK, loads of supermarkets are ridiculous when it comes to the 'challenge 21' policy, because if they sell booze to anyone under 18 they get in loads of trouble. If coffee shops were to lose their licence, when caught selling to non-members, I think a ban could work.
Click to expand...

I lived in Holland for a while and I could see the population kicking off if the police resource was spent, in their eyes, wasting time on this.

But yeah, that sort of scheme might work.
 
I've not been for over 20 years but last time was the 3rd time & the Cafe/canal area was a **** hole.
The city on the other hand is absolutely Gorgeous & the kind of place you can just wander around or sit & pass a few hours, Lovely atmosphere & great architecture. :cool:

Having said all that it doesn't make sense to limit the cafes now as it will just go underground & get even seedier.
In my own experience it's totally unacceptable to smoke a J whilst wandering the city & it's only acceptable whilst hanging around the slums/canal/cafe area. All they need to do is tighten the regulations & maybe charge a one off fee for visiting the slum/cafe/area, Say 50 quid per person & that money could go towards cleaning up the canals & added coppers to clean up the streets & keep the druggys & other visitors safe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom