Coffeeshops restricted to Dutch nationals - Amsterdam!?!?!?

[Cudi_420]

Sorry if I've put this in the wrong forum.

Anyway, I've been reading quite a bit in the local news here in Australia about some Dutch border towns restricting sales in coffeeshops to Dutch nationals and even closing some shops to stop drug tourism.

It seems as though ever since I was in Amsterdam in June 07 a lot has happened and that the Netherlands isn't quite as laid back as it used to be (banning of mushrooms, cleaning up of the RLD, new coffeeshop laws etc. have all come in since my last visit).

Granted, a few of the things the government has brought in seem to be for the better of Amsterdam (let's be honest - the RLD needed to be cleaned up. Only one visit there made me come to that conclusion), but I am still worried that the city will see a similar switch of law as some of the border towns in reference to coffeeshops.

Now first and foremost, I don't intend to come to the dam JUST to smoke - I am a big art lover and love my food, so I very much intend to take in as much Dutch culture as possible, as I did in 07.

But I am worried that when I arrive, I won't be able to enjoy a joint in one of Amsterdam's better coffeeshops after a long day!

I have a friend who is currently studying about 40 minutes out of Amsterdam, and he has told me how he keeps hearing from locals that Amsterdam will soon be like the border towns in restricting sale of pot to locals only.

Is this a strong possibility, and if so, do we think it will come into effect by July 2010?

[Kermit]

Oh well never mind, will have to stop at home and toke on my own better quality bud

[metal4mullets]

TBH, I wouldn't worry too much. The tourism brings in far too much revenue.

The border towns have more to deal with as they are...well...border towns. Trafficking is obviously a bit more of an issue there.

Besides, if the 'dam limits their sales to nationals then I'll just have to become a citizen *shrug*

[Puffin13]

Is this a strong possibility, and if so, do we think it will come into effect by July 2010?

No. I really dont think this will happen. I dont think coffeeshops will ever totally go away from Amsterdam. I think the government would be asking for some BIG trouble if they ever attempted this. The Dutch dont want a drug war and that's exactly what they would get if they tried to ban sales of cannabis. Would be like chopping off your arm cause your finger hurts. Peace.

[mark the martian]

No, coffeeshops won't be for just the locals for a long time yet. It's worth a lot of money to the city, so the christian conservative party in power can't help themselves but keep it around.

Anyway, worst case is I live here and give me entry to the Van Gogh museum and I'll buy you all the weed you want, haha

[Kingdoc]

Stoner tourists arnt a problem for amsterdam.

[Boner]

Stoner tourists arnt a problem for amsterdam.

I think you might find a lot of locals who would say otherwise.

[Kingdoc]

Stoner tourists arnt a problem for amsterdam.

I think you might find a lot of locals who would say otherwise.

Well so the mayor says,Surely they are no more of a pain than the drunks we have to put up with summer/winter here.

[mark the martian]

Personally, if I had to choose whether all the tourists were super stoned or super drunk, I'd choose stoned everytime

[templeball]

According to my dutch accomodation man the new regulations that prohibit coffeeshops being too close to schools is a definate and will close some 53 (?) coffee shops next year. He also said that a Bulldog somehwere or other was 2 meters too close to a school and that they are building a new entrance round the corner to get round it! I have to say that staying opposite Mellow Yellow this year and with the primary school withing 50 feet, the doors were open and you could smell heavy fumes all day, I cant blame the locals for asking for some space between us gentle folk chuffing and staggering around with slit red eyes and young kids on there way to and from school, its not good really. Our apartment window faced the school and it felt uncomfortable staggering in and out in M.Y. in front of the mums and dads at home time, it was just wrong (speaking as a stoner and and a parent)...same as it feels wrong seeing families and little kids being cycled through the RLD nowadays by locals, thats as bad in another way IMO...

[blackshore]

According to my dutch accomodation man the new regulations that prohibit coffeeshops being too close to schools is a definate and will close some 53 (?) coffee shops next year. He also said that a Bulldog somehwere or other was 2 meters too close to a school and that they are building a new entrance round the corner to get round it! I have to say that staying opposite Mellow Yellow this year and with the primary school withing 50 feet, the doors were open and you could smell heavy fumes all day, I cant blame the locals for asking for some space between us gentle folk chuffing and staggering around with slit red eyes and young kids on there way to and from school, its not good really. Our apartment window faced the school and it felt uncomfortable staggering in and out in M.Y. in front of the mums and dads at home time, it was just wrong (speaking as a stoner and and a parent)...same as it feels wrong seeing families and little kids being cycled through the RLD nowadays by locals, thats as bad in another way IMO...

TB - I think the ruling applies to senior schools only

My daughter goes to school 50ft from Coffeshop Yo Yo and I'm just as happy walking her past there as I am the numerous bars on the way (where there often people outside drinking) - It's all legal - you shouldn't feel guilty, if I didn't mind my children being exposed to this I wouldn't have moved them to Amsterdam.

[templeball]

According to my dutch accomodation man the new regulations that prohibit coffeeshops being too close to schools is a definate and will close some 53 (?) coffee shops next year. ...same as it feels wrong seeing families and little kids being cycled through the RLD nowadays by locals, thats as bad in another way IMO...

TB - I think the ruling applies to senior schools only

My daughter goes to school 50ft from Coffeshop Yo Yo and I'm just as happy walking her past there as I am the numerous bars on the way (where there often people outside drinking) - It's all legal - you shouldn't feel guilty, if I didn't mind my children being exposed to this I wouldn't have moved them to Amsterdam.

Hi Blackshore, I appreciate that its legal and all that, its just that for me it feels innapropriate/morally wrong to feel or look off my head around kids, I dont think its very nice, the same goes for drinkers mind you, why should little kids have to see grown men (and women) ripped off their tits as they come and go about their little lives....but I appreciate not everyone feels that, you obviously have no probs with it for starters. I think I was just saying I cant argue with this particular law. Now English laws, thats another matter. What a load of nonsensical, confused and ill informed law makers we seem to have at the moment...dontcha reckon?

[millweed]

Any European can come to UK and do as we do (as i understand it) they can work,no need for permits etc,they can sign on can't they?
so it should follow that what the dutch can do in holland so can we, or not?

just a thought

[Puffin13]

Hi Blackshore, I appreciate that its legal and all that, its just that for me it feels innapropriate/morally wrong to feel or look off my head around kids, I dont think its very nice, the same goes for drinkers mind you, why should little kids have to see grown men (and women) ripped off their tits as they come and go about their little lives....but I appreciate not everyone feels that, you obviously have no probs with it for starters. I think I was just saying I cant argue with this particular law. Now English laws, thats another matter. What a load of nonsensical, confused and ill informed law makers we seem to have at the moment...dontcha reckon?

You ingest cannabis and you side with people that say smoking cannabis is morally wrong!? WTF!? If children see people that are stoned or drunk, they will learn from an early age that both are accepted as a part of adult life and then they can make their own decisions, when they are later grown, if they would want to partake of either. The smart people know that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol. I dont see any governments closing bars close to schools. Why not? Because it is the "socially acceptable" and cannabis is not. I say legalize it and let people decide for themselves if they would like to use either drug. I, for one, do not feel that a natural plant, as opposed to a man-made brew, is morally objectionable. I believe children should wait until they are an adult (18+) before they should be able to choose for themselves and not have someone else dictating to them what they can and cannot put into their own bodies, as long as they are not hurting anyone else. Keep your morality to yourself. Peace n Pot.

[mark the martian]

Yeah, to be fair that sounds a little prudish. Riding your kid through the red light district or walking them past coffeeshops and stoners is all part of living in this city...