on the link you put up
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam < they talk about the shops...
4th paragraph
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in the world, is located in the city center. Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, its red-light district,
and its many cannabis coffee shops draw more than 3.66 million international visitors annually. However, a new national regulation could greatly affect the city's famed tolerance for drugs, and cut down on the number of foreigners coming there to buy marijuana. Mayor Eberhard van der Laan is hoping to reach a compromise with the national government so the tourism industry will not be significantly affected
Whats weird is this part...
Tourism
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.63 million international visitors annually, << meaning 1million of ppl who go on vacation in amsterdam dont go to the shops!!

and again they wanna ban tourist from them!!
