Holland looking to ban cannabis sales to tourists

[wietlover]

By Gilbert Kreijger Gilbert Kreijger – Wed Nov 17, 3:00 pm ET

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops," where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

 

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

 

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

 

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading.

 

"No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS Wednesday.

 

"The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

 

Amsterdam, home to 223 coffee shops, is already in the process of closing some in the red light district to tackle criminal activity in the area, and was studying the government proposal.

 

"We are taking the current practice as a starting point. It is not perfect but in many ways we have a functioning coffee shop system," an Amsterdam city spokesman said.

 

The government's plans for a tourist ban, whereby only holders of a resident's pass would be allowed to buy hash, has not yet been formally put into law and no timeframe has been proposed.

 

The possession of up to 5 grams (0.18 oz) of cannabis or hash is allowed in the Netherlands but large-scale production and transport is a crime.

 

Some Dutch border towns such as Maastricht and Terneuzen have already restricted the sale of marijuana to foreigners to limit crime and disturbances such as traffic jams.

 

The advocate-general of the European Court of Justice advised in July that Maastricht had the right to refuse foreigners entry to its coffee shops, giving support to the Dutch government's nationwide ban if the court followed the advice.

 

(Editing by Sara Webb)

Edited November 22, 2010 by wietlover

[The Hash Nibbler]

Hele Slecht Wiet, Hele Slecht Junger. Voor jou Ries dat ist niet goede. Ik hebt eine vriend van Deventer? Goede zo? Alles Komt Goede.

h72

[The Stoned Jester]

*Really Bad Babelfish Translation*

 

"Complete badly Wiet, complete bad Junger. For you Rites that ist not good. I have a friend of Deventer? Good this way? Everything come good."

 

for those of you who cant read dutch/netherlandish

 

hell i cant read it, just thought it would be cool to pass it though the translator

[The Hash Nibbler]

Hey Stoned jester =) , Very close. That translaters suck worse than my dutch. .

 

It is................. "Very bad Wiet, Very bad. For your Holiday this is not good. I have a friend in Deventer? Is this good? All will come good.

 

Gh72

[smashed1]

shit !!!!! i was saveing to go over there next year, ow well fuck it i might just go get half a pound now make me own coffee an site down an smoke the shit out of it,

[Bundy]

tis' a shame, i wanted to go there for a holiday to...

[wietlover]

Hele Slecht Wiet, Hele Slecht Junger. Voor jou Ries dat ist niet goede. Ik hebt eine vriend van Deventer? Goede zo? Alles Komt Goede.

h72

All good bruva, my mother lives in Amsterdam has done for 20 years!!!!!I'm very fuckin lucky.

She lives in the Jordan about 600 meters from barneys on the haarlemmerstraat!!She will be running alot af errands

Hopefully they will have a hard time implementing it as you know GH72, alot of people will lose alot of business and thier livleyhoods !!(forget about the nederwiet) what about the food guys!!!Febo will go broke

And i feel for all the peeps that might not get the chance to experience the weed culture over there as you truly do feel like a kid in a candy store!!

Anyways fingers cross it won't happen

Proost tot straks

wiet

Edited November 22, 2010 by wietlover

[The Hash Nibbler]

Always Canada Ay? . Gh72

[Fibrofeend]

Farrkkkkkkkkkk going to UK next year, first time overseas! looks like i wont bother getten the train over now..

 

What a shit day for cannabis

 

the world is full of c#NTs

[highbreed]

fuck I'll be there in 12hrs times a ticking..another blow to stoners worldwide