Up in smoke! Dutch to ban tourists from buying pot

Chrisuperfly · Post by **Chrisuperfly** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 08:11 pm

donpacino wrote:Do you know what is really annoying me, nearly every news article i read is claiming that there is allready a tourist ban in maastricht, now i might be wrong but i dont think so, but this is bullsh*t, i have read trip reports and coffee shops reviews about maastricht recently and there is definately tourists in there CS' , i know they tried it but it got took to court, and was lifted while trial took place and was not reinstated. Why dont schmuck journalists just report the facts.

On another note, i just read somewhere (cant post link as im on my mobile phone) that the new proposals amongst others wont be took to parliament until next year, when i dont know and how true this is i also dont know.

Was there last week, you can still smoke in Maastricht.

Stanky Danky · Post by **Stanky Danky** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 08:20 pm

Chrisuperfly wrote:
donpacino wrote:Do you know what is really annoying me, nearly every news article i read is claiming that there is allready a tourist ban in maastricht, now i might be wrong but i dont think so, but this is bullsh*t, i have read trip reports and coffee shops reviews about maastricht recently and there is definately tourists in there CS' , i know they tried it but it got took to court, and was lifted while trial took place and was not reinstated. Why dont schmuck journalists just report the facts.

On another note, i just read somewhere (cant post link as im on my mobile phone) that the new proposals amongst others wont be took to parliament until next year, when i dont know and how true this is i also dont know.
Was there last week, you can still smoke in Maastricht.

The journalists may have got it right. It's possible there was backlash from the coffeeshops over lost profits and they said to hell with the ban. If their business was mostly from non-Dutch citizens they would be forced to in order to stay afloat.

donpacino · Post by **donpacino** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 09:05 pm

Stanky Danky wrote:
Chrisuperfly wrote:
donpacino wrote:Do you know what is really annoying me, nearly every news article i read is claiming that there is allready a tourist ban in maastricht, now i might be wrong but i dont think so, but this is bullsh*t, i have read trip reports and coffee shops reviews about maastricht recently and there is definately tourists in there CS' , i know they tried it but it got took to court, and was lifted while trial took place and was not reinstated. Why dont schmuck journalists just report the facts.

On another note, i just read somewhere (cant post link as im on my mobile phone) that the new proposals amongst others wont be took to parliament until next year, when i dont know and how true this is i also dont know.
Was there last week, you can still smoke in Maastricht.
The journalists may have got it right. It's possible there was backlash from the coffeeshops over lost profits and they said to hell with the ban. If their business was mostly from non-Dutch citizens they would be forced to in order to stay afloat.

But the ban was lifted, officialy, when the CS owner took the town to court and was never reinstated, yet most journalists claim an official ban is in effect at this current time, just annoys me there facts arent right, makes me ask what else they have got wrong.

carlazi · Post by **carlazi** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 09:09 pm

This is the problem with wikipedia journalism. Its the first stop of 90% of journalists without actually being on the ground in the country.

Its worrying how this story has spread from american news to 2 british newspapers without anyone actually checking or gaining a new insight. Very cheap!

Glad i made my plans to move to Netherlands in Jan.

Chrisuperfly · Post by **Chrisuperfly** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 09:54 pm

I even asked the guy at the door at Black Widow whether he thinks its for real, guy said," It could happen if they want it to but, what that means is we move business outside".

I'll believe it when I see it actually happen, there is so much postulating in politics you never know what is for real and what is bullshit.

The other discussions have mentioned the money aspect as well. Coffee Shops account for roughly 400 million euro in tax money for The Netherlands, which may not be much when compared to their GDP but, you also have to take into account the other businesses that are effected by this type of ban, after it hits the hotel & restaurant industry, transportation, etc. that figure could jump to a couple billion.

donpacino · Post by **donpacino** » Thu 18th Nov 2010 11:27 pm

Just got an email from an old buddy who studies over in maastricht who i mailed over a month ago and he tells me that it is buisness as usual at the moment, he doesnt go in the CS anymore but apparently they are supposed to be introducing the member cards there in 2011, he dont know exactly when but alot of his friends over there dont believe it will happen or if it does then wont last long, he did also say that really no one know what is going to happen because so many things are being said by so many different people, and that even the authoritys dont even no.

Roots Daughter · Post by **Roots Daughter** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 12:35 am

I've been reading a lot of BS hype on this topic in mainstream media today, but here's a decent article from AP:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... aa9e3fe750

On a personal note, I just want to add that any problems caused by cannabis in Maastricht are because of the laws in nearby Germany, not cannabis.
--Roots Daughter

roker · Post by **roker** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 12:38 am

Roots Daughter wrote: I just want to add that any problems caused by cannabis in Maastricht are because of the laws in nearby Germany, not cannabis.
--Roots Daughter

natuurlich

LadyJane · Post by **LadyJane** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 01:36 am

Prohibition sucks hard.

And, if I were a Dutch citizen living in a border town, I too, may feel strongly about how cross border traffic and drug tourism affects my community; I think its a matter not to be taken lightly especially for the politicians, who I assume need these people in order to get, or remain, in office.

On the flip side, how can a free democratic society openly support discrimination? I think they are trying to over simplify the issue.

Prohibiting people from doing something does not eliminate the demand. So while it may help curb drug tourism in Holland, it won't stop the rest of the billions of smokers out in the world from wanting weed. I'm going to enjoy my visit in Holland and rejoice in the liberty that exists there now. Nothing ever stay the same, and I think that applies to prohibition as well, its just a matter of when; Weed wasn't always illegal.

Roots Daughter · Post by **Roots Daughter** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 02:56 am

As my favourite coffeeshop owner told me that these things are decided by local councils, I'm sure I'll still be supporting the Dutch economy at the Amsterdam shops in future no matter what they do in Maastricht.
I doubt anything will change though... they've been bleating about it forever in Maastricht but trade still continues.
The conservative government may want to change things, but that doesn't mean they can or will!
--Roots Daughter

donpacino · Post by **donpacino** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 05:49 pm

Just in case anyone is interested, The sun on line has got wind of this story now, dont say anything new except apparently no annoucement is due until sometime in 2011, is the sun though so probably bullsh*t.

Guardian on line has an interesting story, says the same but with few extra tid bits, one of the more positive ones ive read recently, full of if's and but's.

Sorry cant post links as im on my mobile again.

Stanky Danky · Post by **Stanky Danky** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 05:56 pm

donpacino wrote:Just in case anyone is interested, The sun on line has got wind of this story now, dont say anything new except apparently no annoucement is due until sometime in 2011, is the sun though so probably bullsh*t.

Guardian on line has an interesting story, says the same but with few extra tid bits, one of the more positive ones ive read recently, full of if's and but's.

Sorry cant post links as im on my mobile again.

Link to said article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... ffee-shops

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 07:18 pm

Like ive said before! i doubt this will happen,Ps i saw a great article the other day there.

http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/5/POLITI ... rdam.dhtml

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 07:27 pm

donpacino wrote:Do you know what is really annoying me, nearly every news article i read is claiming that there is allready a tourist ban in maastricht, now i might be wrong but i dont think so, but this is bullsh*t, i have read trip reports and coffee shops reviews about maastricht recently and there is definately tourists in there CS' , i know they tried it but it got took to court, and was lifted while trial took place and was not reinstated. Why dont schmuck journalists just report the facts.

On another note, i just read somewhere (cant post link as im on my mobile phone) that the new proposals amongst others wont be took to parliament until next year, when i dont know and how true this is i also dont know.

Yea i agree with you! this is rubbish as any decision isnt due till the new year anyways,& breda are still selling weed also btw

,Even the mayor of amsterdam says there isnt a problem there like say limberg,& all this about sleeze & the rld is BS frankly,Most counties have a RLD & do you hear people saying crap about them? no,If people dont like coffeeshops or seeing windows well like roker says they should f-off frankly,Sorry if its not PC,KD.

joeuk · Post by **joeuk** » Fri 19th Nov 2010 07:28 pm

theres a red light district in the middle of shitty stoke theres a brasss gaf 5 minutes from my house