So the Weed pass thing? and your thoughts?

[puffthemagicdragon]

Slip and Sal,

You wont be going to amsterdam if you cant by smoke, neither will anyone else on this forum nor 1000's others. This is precisely why this weedpass will never happen in amsterdam.

Stop believing the hype from people who are just trying to get hits on there websites.

Politicians will always talk of changing laws because there job is to appease voters from all spectrums of life.

In reality banning tourists from buying smoke in dam will never happen, but it will always be discussed, its all smoke and mirrors

The bottom line always comes down to one thing $$$$$$$$$

Sorry but I think you're totally wrong. I don't think this ban is hype for one minute and from what I can see nobody is trying to get hits on their website.

Personally I hope I'm wrong and the whole thing is hype, but I would rather do all I can to try and prevent this law coming in than sit on my backside doing sweet FA.

Yes tourism in Amsterdam will reduce, but sadly I don't think by anything like the level it would need to for the Government to react. Although lots of us go to coffee shops, a great deal of tourists never step foot in them preferring instead to visit museums, canals, etc. I work for an airline and see who goes to Amsterdam - there's absolutely no doubt stoners are in the minority.

[verticalSquare]

Slip and Sal,

You wont be going to amsterdam if you cant by smoke, neither will anyone else on this forum nor 1000's others. This is precisely why this weedpass will never happen in amsterdam.

Stop believing the hype from people who are just trying to get hits on there websites.

Politicians will always talk of changing laws because there job is to appease voters from all spectrums of life.

In reality banning tourists from buying smoke in dam will never happen, but it will always be discussed, its all smoke and mirrors

The bottom line always comes down to one thing $$$$$$$$$

Sorry but I think you're totally wrong. I don't think this ban is hype for one minute and from what I can see nobody is trying to get hits on their website.

+1

Joosy, lets face it: you've absolutely no idea whether or not the weed pass will happen as you're not a member of the dutch government. A spokesperson for the Dutch government said that it WILL happen next year. I'm inclined to believe them unless any other evidence points to the contrary - you're not providing evidence, you're providing pure speculation.

My thoughts on the Weed pass are that
a) it sucks
b) it looks like it will happen

Its very sad, and rather surprising considering developments in other parts of the world at the moment but governments go in liberal / conservative cycles and obviously there's a convervative one in place at the moment in Holland.

[joossy]

"A spokesperson for the Dutch government"

says it all really...

"I work for an airline and see who goes to Amsterdam - there's absolutely no doubt stoners are in the minority"

So you can tell by looking at someone if they will use a coffeeshop?

The weedpass has nothing to do with Amsterdam, nothing at all. It has nothing to do with tourists either, it is purely about smuggling.

You're all just paranoid..

[verticalSquare]

The weedpass has nothing to do with Amsterdam, nothing at all. It has nothing to do with tourists either, it is purely about smuggling.

Again, pure speculation, with absolutely no evidence to back up what you're saying. And I mean EVIDENCE, not your opinion. You're obviously perfectly entitled to your own opinion, but to state this as fact is misleading, and all you're doing is adding to the hyperbole and misinformation which surrounds this issue.

[nolvanschaik]

"one thing to remember is that the current mayor will not be mayor forever."

Van der laan just started, he has another 5 years....

[joossy]

“Reports that such a pass will be applied in Amsterdam are…completely without foundation. The Mayor and Council of Amsterdam are radically opposed to such a scheme and it will not be implemented in the city.”

"Drug Tourism is big business for Amsterdam, with one in four visitors smoking during their visit"




By all means support the smoke out and have a good time. But nothing has happened or has been announced that is going to affect amsterdam anytime soon.

[nolvanschaik]

I think I am wasting my time explaining things all over every time, but as always, I bow to those seeking knowledge...

I have heard this from my colleague Hein, who owns Maximillian coffeeshops in Haarlem and Tilburg:
He was told, on a meeting with Tilburg's mayor and his local colleagues,that teh weedpass system is going to take of there, and in other cities in the South, on May 1. They need to hire bouncers to keep the non Dutch cannabis fans away and to make sure all Dutch persons are registered members.

The rest of the country will folow on Jan.1, 2013.

Now, I too believe the weedpass can not be, but they are trying to introduce it anyway. We can only take legal steps once the system works, now we can only protest, and we will.

Don't think it is a pain for foreigners only, it's a pain for all of us. Dutch persons can only register in 1 coffeeshop, they will no longer be able to enter another. Registration means their data will have to be available to the police and such....people that do register will take chances...

We are running an enquiry in all 16 coffeeshops of Haarlem, seems about 15 % of the participants will register, the rest fears big brothers measurements. With those numbers, the coffeeshops will all go bankrupt.

Understand my concerns now??

thank you.

[nolvanschaik]

Joossy, we bring in 400 million euros in tax each year with 650 coffeeshops. Believe me, the government considers this peanuts, they gave 80.000.000.000.- euros to Greece....

The Amsterdam entrepreneurs care about the coffeeshops and the income from their customers, but the government could not care less.

[Smokey McPot]

Thanks Nol

This is just what we need, genuine founded information from someone actually part of issue, instead of all these "opinions" masquerading as fact!

[verticalSquare]

We are running an enquiry in all 16 coffeeshops of Haarlem, seems about 15 % of the participants will register, the rest fears big brothers measurements. With those numbers, the coffeeshops will all go bankrupt.

Its very hard to see how you could be wrong, sadly. Its strange that the government didn't make it simply necessary to have a Dutch passport to enter a coffeeshop. If, as you say, one person may only register for one coffeeshop, its hard to see the coffeeshops will stay in business at all.

[Smokey McPot]

And the Coffeeshop will only be allowed to have a maximum of 1500 "members" which is effectively an earnings cap, I mean how much money will each one of those members spend in a year? Not as much as the possible 1 million tourists + the infinite numbers of dutch nationals I bet

It bad news all round but most especially for the owners/employees within the Coffeeshop industry

[nolvanschaik]

Oh, but it will be a Dutch passport they are using, there will NOT BE A PHYSICAL PASS OR CARD!!!!

so, no fake cards, and if the shops are going to use an ID machine, they will also register every time one visits a coffeeshop. This means you could use you drivers license by frequenting a coffeeshop, no mouth swaps needed.

Insurance companies are already planning to raise the health insurance premium for those who register as a DRUGS USER in a coffeeshop, etc.....

can you smell the sting?

[puffthemagicdragon]

""I work for an airline and see who goes to Amsterdam - there's absolutely no doubt stoners are in the minority"

So you can tell by looking at someone if they will use a coffeeshop?

Of course not, stoners come in all shapes, sizes, ages etc.

But you learn about a lot about people when you work with them in a customer facing role.

[joossy]

I think I am wasting my time explaining things all over every time, but as always, I bow to those seeking knowledge...

I have heard this from my colleague Hein, who owns Maximillian coffeeshops in Haarlem and Tilburg:
He was told, on a meeting with Tilburg's mayor and his local colleagues,that teh weedpass system is going to take of there, and in other cities in the South, on May 1. They need to hire bouncers to keep the non Dutch cannabis fans away and to make sure all Dutch persons are registered members.

The rest of the country will folow on Jan.1, 2013.

Now, I too believe the weedpass can not be, but they are trying to introduce it anyway. We can only take legal steps once the system works, now we can only protest, and we will.

Don't think it is a pain for foreigners only, it's a pain for all of us. Dutch persons can only register in 1 coffeeshop, they will no longer be able to enter another. Registration means their data will have to be available to the police and such....people that do register will take chances...

We are running an enquiry in all 16 coffeeshops of Haarlem, seems about 15 % of the participants will register, the rest fears big brothers measurements. With those numbers, the coffeeshops will all go bankrupt.

Understand my concerns now??

thank you.

I sympathize with you, i really do.

I have purely spoken as a tourist & specifically about amsterdam.

Non of you concerns affect tourists or Amsterdam. But I hear your pain as a dutchman and hope things work out for you

[joossy]

Joossy, we bring in 400 million euros in tax each year with 650 coffeeshops. Believe me, the government considers this peanuts, they gave 80.000.000.000.- euros to Greece....

The Amsterdam entrepreneurs care about the coffeeshops and the income from their customers, but the government could not care less.

I doubt the dutch gave 80 billion to greece.

As a dutchman can't you grow 5 plants at a time legally? Thats a pretty good fullback plan.

I appreciate and understand coffeeshop owners outside of amsterdam stand to lose their businesses and you should protest about it and good luck.