Dutch commit to plan to block marijuana tourists

AMSTERDAM - The Dutch Cabinet says it will push ahead with plans to force anyone wishing to purchase marijuana at the country's weed cafes to first obtain an official pass — a move designed to curtail tourists from buying the drug.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he plans to begin rolling out the system in the country's south later this year, an area popular with French and German buyers, before moving on to Amsterdam's famed tourist cafes later in his term.

Justice Ministry spokesman Wim van der Weegen said Friday the supreme court must still rule on whether foreigners can be blocked entirely.

Regardless, he said the plan will prevent cafes from issuing more than 1,500 permits in all, forcing shop owners to choose between tourists and their regular customers.

[cktirumalai]

The Dutch play by their own rules and do no wish to0
see their system undermined or kinapped by foreigners.Understandable.
Candadai Tirumalai

[effjay4]

So much for visiting Amsterdam. Oh well, on to British Colombia! Great skiing also, sweet!!

[Dr_Lou]

I hope their tourism is hit hard by this new restriction. The people of the world are finally coming around to beleiving that marijuana is not that harmful (less than alcohol) and that prohibition is a waste. Meanwhile Obama is upscaling the "war on drugs" and the governments of the world seem to be giving in to US pressures to further prohibition. Capitalism may defeat this measure. If coffee shops cannot sell to all the customers demanding cannabis, more shops may open up to fill the demand. If the govt won't issue permits to those new shops, they'll simply create a larger black-market in a country that has virtually no illegal drug trade currently. BTW, I voted for Obama and still support him in general, but not his drug policy, among other things. Everybody should write a hand-written letter to the president to end the "war on drugs". The world will follow.

[ky7474]

The US gov continues to try to be the dictator of the world, even though it hurts our national security. Throwing our tax dollars at other countries to benefit corporate interests. Cannabis will continue to be used by those who know its benefits and rejected by those who enjoy destroying the lives of others. Where do you stand Pres.?

[robbyr2]

Didn't they get the memo? We have lost the Drug War. Why? Because you can't impose your morality on others. Feel free to educate and demonstrate the negatives, but otherwise, its a waste of time.

[documemts]

.........There goes my summer vacation.

[maypo]

We don't need more repression. This story has Forbes magazine somewhat critical of our drug policy here. No doubt they are reacting to pressure from the US there.

http://blogs.forbes.com/erikkain/2011/05/18/iraq-war-veteran-jose-guerena-killed-by-arizona-swat-team/

[markag55]

When I visited Amsterdam a few years ago, I visited a "coffee house" where I bought some cannabis. Since it had been 30 years since I had smoked hash or weed, I couldn't roll a decent joint. So much for "once you've ridden a bicycle, you'll always be able to ride." I finally bought a pipe. Even though getting high was not the same as it was 30 years ago, it was indeed pleasurable, especially being in Amsterdam. After smoking, I went to the central plaza, sat my self down at a table, nurtured a single bottle of Heineken for a few hours, and just enjoyed myself immensely, looking at the people, the crowds, a "circus act", etc.

Why take that away from tourists? It's definitely part of the Amsterdam "scene." For those young people who flock to Amsterdam or Prague just to get high, that may be a problem. But for those of us "boomers" who would like to enjoy a memory of our past in the present moment, it seems like such a foolish thing to do to severely limit cannabis to tourists.

And, as far as business goes, think of how many tourists you may lose. At my age, I'd go back to Amsterdam (especially because the Van Gough Museum was closed for renovations when I was there). But I would also love to get high, nurse a Heineken for a few hours, and just sit back and enjoy.

[peterpun111]

If it gets too difficult in Amsterdam there's always Vancouver, British Columbia. It's closer and you can drive to it.

[us_1776]

Notice that the Netherlands does not have criminal drug gangs conducting massive territorial drug wars resulting in huge numbers of deaths.

Of course in the U.S. daily you can see on the news drug related gang killings in every state and city in the country.


.

[ATLCurtis]

Stoooooooopid idea. Must be a conservative in charge. Prohibition doesn't work. It will just increase the black market.

[peterpun111]

If you don't learn from history, you are condemned to re-live it.