Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis cafes

[jdab]

A judge in the Netherlands has upheld a new law to ban foreign tourists from entering cannabis cafes.

While soft drugs are tolerated, there is growing concern at tourists visiting just for drugs, and foreign dealers selling illegally at home.

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

A group of cafe owners argued at The Hague district court that the ban was discriminatory against foreigners.

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", which is also being debated.

There are about 700 coffee shops, as they are called, in the Netherlands. The cultivation and sale of soft drugs through them is decriminalised, although not legal; police generally tolerate possession of up to five grams of cannabis.

A lawyer for the coffee shop owners said he would immediately lodge an appeal.

Michael Veling, a spokesman for the Dutch Cannabis Retailers Association, is among those challenging the government plan.

"It is going to cost me 90% of my turnover," he told the BBC World Service. "That is a very good reason for anyone to oppose any plan. Second it puts our customers in a very difficult spot, because why do you have to register to buy a substance that is still illegal?"

Tougher approach
The BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says the nationwide ban is being strongly opposed by the Mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, because around a third of the city's tourists visit to smoke cannabis in the cafes.

If the coffee shop owners lose their case they say they will take it to the European Court of Human Rights, on the grounds that the Dutch should not be allowed to discriminate against people on the basis of where they live.

The moves are part of a tougher approach to drugs introduced by the coalition conservative-led government, elected 18 months ago.

In October strong cannabis was reclassified as a hard drug, amid concerns that it has a psychotic effect on some users.

The move forced cannabis coffee shops to remove the more popular stronger varieties from their shelves.

In November the city of Maastricht brought in a coffee shop ban for foreign tourists from all countries, except Belgium and Germany, from where the majority of foreign customers come.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17865151

 

[Gimgak]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

Oh no, weed is going to be so hard to get in the Netherlands now, right guys?

But yeah this just goes to show how conservatives love to feck things up, i feel sorry for the dutch but hopefully they'll get rid of these baboons.

 

[jdab]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

Oh no, weed is going to be so hard to get in the Netherlands now, right guys?

But yeah this just goes to show how conservatives love to feck things up, i feel sorry for the dutch but hopefully they'll get rid of these baboons.

From what I understand the Dutch are allowed in the bars, just not tourists.

 

[Gimgak]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

I know, I'm sorry for the dutch who are going to lose their jobs and become homeless because their source of income is being bulldozed by conservative roosters.

 

[etc]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

i'm not going there anymore 😀

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

There goes their tourism industry...

 

[master412160]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

There goes their tourism industry...

We got alot more then that to keep our tourism industry going.

 

[Gimgak]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

Except according to the article a third of tourists come just to smoke weed. Kind of a lot of tourism lost due to politicians having mental constipation.

 

[NBK*Twitch]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

There goes their tourism industry...

We got alot more then that to keep our tourism industry going.

As others have said most of the tourism comes from people wanting to smoke weed. Sure it won't die out,but it will be hit hard.. very hard.

 

[Gimgak]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

Seriously whats up dutch people. First you outlaw shrooms, then this. Something is up with your politicians. With the way the US is going it seems that roles will be reversed within the next 10 years.

 

[Abu Taj al Deen]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

There goes their tourism industry...

We got alot more then that to keep our tourism industry going.

As others have said most of the tourism comes from people wanting to smoke weed. Sure it won't die out,but it will be hit hard.. very hard.

Very hard.
I mean, whenever anyone says they're going to Amsterdam, or even mentioned Amsterdam, what's the joke that's flying at everyone who overhears it from a mile away?

Sorry. But this is a great example of poor economic management.

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

Seriously whats up dutch people. First you outlaw shrooms, then this. Something is up with your politicians. With the way the US is going it seems that roles will be reversed within the next 10 years.

That's because we can't handle our own debt and the government has to find something else to tax.

 

[calanau]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

I know, I'm sorry for the dutch who are going to lose their jobs and become homeless because their source of income is being bulldozed by conservative roosters.

I don't think anybody will lose their job cos of that. You actually think it will be impossible to get a drugs from now?

All you have to do is ask a dutch guy to get you something from the coffee shop...simple as that...

 

[Gimgak]

Re: Tourists in Netherlands no longer allowed in cannabis ca

I know, I'm sorry for the dutch who are going to lose their jobs and become homeless because their source of income is being bulldozed by conservative roosters.

I don't think anybody will lose their job cos of that. You actually think it will be impossible to get a drugs from now?

All you have to do is ask a dutch guy to get you something from the coffee shop...simple as that...

I'm talking about the coffee shop owners who now are limited by how much they can sell a day and whose employees will be laid off.