TOURISTS BANNED FROM COFFEESHOPS? WELL NOT REALLY!

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Fri 18th Sep 2009 06:13 am

TOURISTS BANNED FROM COFFEESHOPS? WELL NOT REALLY!
17 September 2009

What is really happening is quite different from the image that is created by the media. "There is no decision yet. It is the intention of the current government to do this. But there will be parliamentary debates this autumn, and then even if the parliament approves this, I guess there will be lots of possibilities to start a courtcase because it is essentially a case of discrimination.", explains Joep Oomen, coordinator of ENCOD.

Various reports on the decision of the Dutch government to ban the sale of cannabis to tourists have been published in the European and American press. The headlines, that distort the facts, seem to be made to serve prohibitionist propaganda. Words as "banned" accompanied by reactionary statements are now being associated to words as "coffeeshop" and "the Netherlands".

What is really happening is quite different from the image that is created by the media. "There is no decision yet. It is the intention of the current government to do this. But there will be parliamentary debates this autumn, and then even if the parliament approves this, I guess there will be lots of possibilities to start a courtcase because it is essentially a case of discrimination.", explains Joep Oomen, coordinator of ENCOD.

In fact, courtcases are taking place before Dutch and European courts. In Maastricht the lord mayor and the coffeeshops already are trying to find out through a courtcase if it is legal to refuse foreigners to buy cannabis in a coffeeshop. In this case a decision is expected from the European Court of Justice, as this will possibly violate the free trade agreements of the European Union.

As long as this decision is unknown, Dutch (and international) efforts to discourage foreigners to come to Holland and buy cannabis will be limited to symbolic measures, such as the short film that will be exposed in Belgian cinemas, showing tourists knocking on the closed doors of coffeeshops of some cities at the border, and afterwards get busted because they have bought cannabis from a local seller. (AFP).

ENCOD, in its September bulletin, reported on the refrom process that is currently taking place in the Netherlands. In july, a report from the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) was presented to the government. The report sends many positive signs on the phenomena of cannabis and coffeeshops. According to the committee, tolerance concerning cannabis has not failed, and a total prohibition of cannabis is indesirable.

The report presents 3 different options to further develop the coffeeshop model. The first option is complete legalisation, which would mean that the Netherlands will have to denounce the UN treaties on drugs. The second option is to extend the tolerance of the sale in coffeeshops to the cultivation for these shops. The committee also refuses this option, as it would not end the involvement of criminal groups in this cultivation.

The third option, the one that is recommended by the committee (and referred to by the media), is to convert the coffeeshop into a kind of “cannabis social club” restricted to members and with a regulated supply. Clients should become a member of this club, that would organise the cultivation of the plants and offer the harvest in the shop that would only be accessible to the members, i.e Dutch residents. While ENCOD would welcome this system in any other country, it is clear that in Holland this would be a step backwards, as there is a serious risk that the shady situation at the backdoor would pass on to the frontdoor as well. "A lively trade in club passes could be expected", says Oomen.

The media create the illusion that tolerant policies are to blame for problems that are actuallly created by the fact that they are not tolerant enough. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how that situation will turn out in the end.

See also the video report of HCLU on drug tourism.

Source

aradiasraven · Post by **aradiasraven** » Fri 18th Sep 2009 11:50 am

Thanks for the information ,it is good to get the facts out there.

Slaartibartfast · Post by **Slaartibartfast** » Mon 21st Sep 2009 04:21 pm

Thanks for the clear update.

Now here's a thought, Europe is meant to be borderless. So surely those of us who come from EU member states can't be considered foreigners.

spidergawd · Post by **spidergawd** » Mon 21st Sep 2009 07:36 pm

Do you think the permit/membership card will be only for 1 named shop or will it be national? If the system goes national.
And how does it affect Dutch people, are they also not allowed in a towns shops if they dont live there?

Ask one question and a dozen pop up

colinzeal · Post by **colinzeal** » Mon 21st Sep 2009 08:34 pm

Why not just put a customs checkpoint at the door of each coffeeshop?

Wonder how much a dutch address/weed-pass(!) will cost the average punter if this goes any further than a couple of towns and the media?

Still the only possible problem I can think caused by weed-tourism is giving Customs only two options; work harder (pointlessly) or look like fools!

That said it was interesting to hear that gentleman's point about public transport.....had not considered it......stoners give up your seats, you are being a minor annoyance to tired (but sensible) voters!

Old School Smoker · Post by **Old School Smoker** » Mon 21st Sep 2009 09:13 pm

Another question that comes to mind, would these plans apply Dutch 'citizens' or Dutch 'residents'?
If it were to apply to citizens only then I forsee major problems.
An EU member state can not, under free trade laws, prevent any citizen of any other member state conducting lawful business in or obtaining any lawful service available in that state.
In addition, any citizen of an EU state has, subject to a very few execptions, the right of residence in any other EU state.
I think the expression 'Opening a huge can of worms' could be applicable to the Dutch authorities on this one!
I will watch developments with interest!

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Tue 22nd Sep 2009 10:59 am

Old School Smoker wrote:Another question that comes to mind, would these plans apply Dutch 'citizens' or Dutch 'residents'?
If it were to apply to citizens only then I forsee major problems.
An EU member state can not, under free trade laws, prevent any citizen of any other member state conducting lawful business in or obtaining any lawful service available in that state.
In addition, any citizen of an EU state has, subject to a very few execptions, the right of residence in any other EU state.
I think the expression 'Opening a huge can of worms' could be applicable to the Dutch authorities on this one!
I will watch developments with interest!

You are absolutely right, it would not work to forbid EU citizens who are residents of NL, unless they found a loophole since cannabis is not technically legal, just de-criminalized.

I can hazard a guess as to how they would verify your residence. They would check to see if you are registered with your local town hall.

recrec · Post by **recrec** » Tue 20th Oct 2009 01:38 pm

The do-gooders and prohobitionists are having a last final push at the behest of the UN (United Nothing) and the DEA to push their 'Holier than thou' views onto everyone else...it sounds like the 'Spanish Inquisition' all over again...fortunatley they are fighting a loosing battle, and one they will loose. Common sense, descency will prevail. Marijuana will be legal worldwide sometime this century, I hope I live to see it!

Whitesox · Post by **Whitesox** » Wed 21st Oct 2009 12:17 am

Sorry to say, but weed will never be legal, like it is in Holland. There are still way to many people that dont agree with it, and although it could happen, its not likely. id say its about 90 percent it will never happen. The medical industry will boom but other then that, nothing.

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Wed 21st Oct 2009 05:57 am

Whitesox wrote:Sorry to say, but weed will never be legal, like it is in Holland. There are still way to many people that dont agree with it, and although it could happen, its not likely. id say its about 90 percent it will never happen. The medical industry will boom but other then that, nothing.

Weed is not legal in the Netherlands.

Whitesox · Post by **Whitesox** » Wed 21st Oct 2009 06:02 am

Ok, not legal but tolerated. I'll call it legal for the hell of it because can you buy weed in a coffeeshop in The usa? No.. so it is legal in a way

baked · Post by **baked** » Wed 21st Oct 2009 10:52 am

if you look around in the netherlands and listen to dutch growers, you will see , that times have become harder. there are massive police actions against growers, whilst even dutch people recognize, that the us is becoming more smoker friendly.

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Wed 21st Oct 2009 05:11 pm

Whitesox wrote:Ok, not legal but tolerated. I'll call it legal for the hell of it because can you buy weed in a coffeeshop in The usa? No.. so it is legal in a way

You could say it legal for the user, but that is it. Growing is illegal and therefore coffeeshops must commit a crime in order to operate. Its a very strange system.

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Thu 22nd Oct 2009 09:18 pm

Christ! dont these people ever give up.