Justice Minister Ivo: "Drug tourists need somewhere else"

[Kingdoc]

The thing is, I don't know of one single coffeeshop that is trying to do anything about it. In fact most will survive just fine on local business. I said most, I wonder what Barneys, Greenhouse, and Bulldog are doing? Probably paying off their mortgages in tropical countries(Spain) and getting ready to retire.

thats actually nonsense.. do you see more locals or tourists in coffeeshops? yes i have answered you question.

Locals by far except for a few Amsterdam centrum shops. Some shops have never seen a tourist. I lived in a local coffeeshop in Haarlem and in the Netherlands for several years. I still have a home there. You can take some stock in my opinion newb.

I see you're moving to Mokum in a few days. How's that going?

Why would locals even go to a coffeeshop at all if your allowed to grow your own?.

[TTx2]

The thing is, I don't know of one single coffeeshop that is trying to do anything about it. In fact most will survive just fine on local business. I said most, I wonder what Barneys, Greenhouse, and Bulldog are doing? Probably paying off their mortgages in tropical countries(Spain) and getting ready to retire.

thats actually nonsense.. do you see more locals or tourists in coffeeshops? yes i have answered you question.

Locals by far except for a few Amsterdam centrum shops. Some shops have never seen a tourist. I lived in a local coffeeshop in Haarlem and in the Netherlands for several years. I still have a home there. You can take some stock in my opinion newb.

I see you're moving to Mokum in a few days. How's that going?

Thanks I def will take some stock, granny. I was in summer, so you must be right, more locals than tourists, but then, someone told me only 2% population smokes weed (?).

It's going great already have a job and place to live, will be living nearby albert cuyp market. I can't wait to arrive to dam! X)

[Chrisuperfly]

I visit A'Dam on a regular basis with my wife and spend copious amounts of cash there on Hotels, Restaurants, and Weed. You can't get a decent hotel for under 100 euro a night in the spring and summer and a decent dinner at a nice restaurant will cost 60-80 Euro. Not to mention the fact that it costs at least 30 euro a day just to park your car.

If they kill it I'll go somewhere else. I like Amsterdam but, without weed, why bother.

[dconstrukt]

Chrisuperfly - i'm with you dude....

according to this troll in here, "marco"... you're wrong for coming to amsterdam just for weed in the first place...

[schererbuzz]

Chrisuperfly - i'm with you dude....

according to this troll in here, "marco"... you're wrong for coming to amsterdam just for weed in the first place...

Never mind. I wrote something, but I don't think it would make it thru.

[Marco]

Chrisuperfly - i'm with you dude....

according to this troll in here, "marco"... you're wrong for coming to amsterdam just for weed in the first place...

61 posts and you call me a troll, lol.

I will be at the Jetlounge in Westerpark tonight, come by and we can have a chat. Its smoker-friendly, btw.

Of course, this would require you to move the comfort of the Center....and to step out from behind you anonymous screen name, so I will not hold my breath.

[DroolingLiver]

I think that can never happen. Can you see the economical and social problem arrising from the loss of revenue directly and indirectly from shutting down coffeeshops? I mean, it fuels an entire tourism economy that sustains thousands of works directly and indirecly, with flights, hostels, restaurants, and so many things. It seems very unlikely to happen in the dam, at least.

To look at this on the flip side, how much lost revenue could Amsterdam be losing because tourists are not visiting there because of all the coffeeshops?

I often suggest Amsterdam to people wanting to go away for a weekend with a partner and vast majority of he time the response I get is a screwed up face and a, "Amsterdam?! No".

The majority of the public (in England anyhow, I'm sure it's not too different elsewhere) think of two things when they hear about Amsterdam. Drugs and prostitutes and that puts them off.

I had this discussion with a friend of mine and he suggested some couples may go to Amsterdam because those are attractions. I think that may be the case in the minority but could be increased if the RLD and coffeeshops were centralized in one place with the surrounding areas cleaned up.

The authorities will have done their analysis on this and worked out that by cutting the amount of "drug tourists" and replacing them with canal and tulips tourists they'll make more money. The number of people coming in may be lower, but they'll be spending more so the revenue will be close. Even if not, they're thinking long term about cleaning up the image and attracting these tourists.

Personally I don't think it will happen. They may reduce down the RLD and number of coffeeshops but not outright. Even if this wietpas gets introduced, I bet lots of the coffeeshops will still sell to tourists. It's not like the tobacco law made any difference.

[Marco]

ughhhh

next »»»
Helping growers to produce marijuana to become an offence

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten plans to make it a criminal offence to supply equipment and services to marijuana growers, in line with the wishes of parliament.

The minister plans not only to target 'grow shops', which sell seeds, lamps, fertiliser and other supplies but transport firms, landlords and electricians who help with illegal marijuana production.

The offence will carry a maximum jail term of three years, the minister told MPs on Wednesday.

In 2009, police raided 4,727 plantations with a total 850,000 plants.

© DutchNews.nl

[Kingdoc]

ughhhh

next »»»
Helping growers to produce marijuana to become an offence

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten plans to make it a criminal offence to supply equipment and services to marijuana growers, in line with the wishes of parliament.

The minister plans not only to target 'grow shops', which sell seeds, lamps, fertiliser and other supplies but transport firms, landlords and electricians who help with illegal marijuana production.

The offence will carry a maximum jail term of three years, the minister told MPs on Wednesday.

In 2009, police raided 4,727 plantations with a total 850,000 plants.

© DutchNews.nl

Crazy.

[dconstrukt]

i just find it interesting how in the biggest global recession in the last what? 50-80 years? the govmnt, any govmnt would consider doing something this drastic that will 100% for sure lose amsterdam and the country tens, if not hundreds of millions of euros a year in revenue.

Can you imagine how many shops and stores would close?

Can you imaging how many people would lose their jobs?

Look at any city that lost their main source of income....

It's just mindboggling to hear a politician say this... how can you say you care about the people when this would surely ruin many.

[Marco]

i just find it interesting how in the biggest global recession in the last what? 50-80 years? the govmnt, any govmnt would consider doing something this drastic that will 100% for sure lose amsterdam and the country tens, if not hundreds of millions of euros a year in revenue.

Can you imagine how many shops and stores would close?

Can you imaging how many people would lose their jobs?

Look at any city that lost their main source of income....

It's just mindboggling to hear a politician say this... how can you say you care about the people when this would surely ruin many.

Your mind is boggled cause its so small.

The US could close all its budget deficits and make a profit if they legalized and taxed all drugs. Why don't they?

Coffeeshop-related tourism revenues, while significant to a city like Amsterdam, are estimated to be about (max) 400 million euros for the entire country. Compared to the GDP of the Netherlands, its not significant.

Coffeeshops are not even close to the main source of revenues for Amsterdam, period.

It comes back to, how people feel about their country. Voters supported parties that said they would reform or close coffeeshops. Take this as you wish.

It also comes to that the Dutch seem to feel there is crime and nuisance related to coffeeshops. On the crime issue, I think we all agree it will get worse if they close the coffeeshops, or institute a pass-system. But the cocks in the right-wing parties obviously do not agree with that.

The money from CS tourism, while important, will not have a major impact on the Dutch economy. And many Dutch find it insulting to hear that....

To simply blame this on Dutch politicians is convenient, but they were elected by voters.