Shocked passers by

[Slip & Sal]

Just to remind everyone, Veggie is the guy who fights pandas and thinks the weed pass was similar to the holaucaust

Did you and him do something with a Panda that we all don't know about???

[Uncle Ron]

I thought I'd do some casual light reading about spending habits of tourists, and came across this little gem...
"King Fahd of Saudi Arabia until his death was a frequent visitor to Marbella. His entourage used to spend up to 5 million euros a day in the city."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbella

People arrive frequently in private jets, staying at hotels and "specialty" residences costing thousands of Euros per night, not to mention the food and drink consumed. These people also tend to spend thousands of Euros shopping, some even buying large quantities of Kaas, not to mention the flowers, and ship them home (which generates millions of Euros).
My point is that too many stoners believe the hype that cannabis tourism revenue is something that the Dutch can't live without, and they need, nay, should bend backwards for what amounts to is a few drops in the bucket. Pure stoner fiction, nothing more...
Anyone want to wager that if the Dutch banned cannabis outright, that within 3 years their economy would have recovered from the "temporary" drop in tourism? Let's all hope we never have to find out... however, given the rise in canna-tardism, who knows...
This is fun, please sire, may we have more? No... hehe
...

[nooris]

Well here goes my 2cents.

Stoners are important to Amsterdam, not the Netherlands. The stats about tourism, and pot tourism are accurate, however you need to consider that the pot tourism is mostly in Amsterdam. So that number, while small on a national level, is quite significant to Amsterdam's income.

Stoners are not all poor, or students. There are many rich stoners and some filthy rich stoners. They come to Amsterdam primarily for the pot and end up spending a ton of money on everything else. I don't consider myself a poor stoner (not rich either) and I spend a lot of money in Amsterdam, and have done so for many years. I come to the city 4-5 times per year and spend on average 5,000euro in the city each time (not including airfare). I have come here with friends who are very rich, and have seen how much they spend, and they chose to come to Amsterdam (over the Cayman Islands) because they wanted good hash. So when considering pot tourism, you have to take into account that this also includes rich potheads.

However, that still does not give stoners the right to act like they own the place. Obviously that's a shitty attitude and could reduce public support, etc... Having said that, smoking a joint around Centrum is no big deal, and doesn't really piss off people.

[spidergawd]

canna-tardism,...

Did you copywrite that one yet UR ?

[Veggie]

Just a reminder,,Marco is a lying pussy ass hole who was quaking in his heels when I begged to meet him in person......thanks for the stats about tourism...nothing everyone doesn't know....20 % is a lot..and there's a lot of peripheral income your not considering ......also a lot of people that are stoners have money to burn.....alot of them.......again I'm simply saying its a good relationship...if people can't see that...even if they are Dutch,,,,fuck them.......if they want to continue down a path of more restrictions and less tolerance, there are other great places looking to take there place....

[diamond steve]

My two penny's......I agree with nooris...... And if I can read through the name calling I think veggie was saying that too....just a little rudeness in his tone....the original post said he was sitting on a patio table of a coffeeshop and smoking.....I don't see the problem with that...it's most likely a small amount of people that would have a problem with it...

[Slip & Sal]

when I begged to meet him in person

you begged to meet Marco Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah !

[Marco]

Just a reminder,,Marco is a lying pussy ass hole who was quaking in his heels when I begged to meet him in person......thanks for the stats about tourism...nothing everyone doesn't know....20 % is a lot..and there's a lot of peripheral income your not considering ......also a lot of people that are stoners have money to burn.....alot of them.......again I'm simply saying its a good relationship...if people can't see that...even if they are Dutch,,,,fuck them.......if they want to continue down a path of more restrictions and less tolerance, there are other great places looking to take there place....

Hmmmm....I have a busy life here, why the fuck would I spend 5 minutes to find a meet a douche bag like you in my own city? There are about a million things better to do than find some semi-literate panda fighter like you on my off. For what purposes exactly, pussy?

Fuck them....then don't come back here you fucking stupid tourist. Whatever the contribution of canna-tourist, no one needs your 25e a day, which probably is all spent at a youth hostel and Febo.

The Internet tough guy is the most pathetic example a troll.

[Marco]

when I begged to meet him in person

you begged to meet Marco Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah !

Yes, after he left.

[USbongLord]

fuck em marco..now im a fucking tourist?...lol

[Marco]

fuck em marco..now im a fucking tourist?...lol

Your no tourist! And definitely not a 'fucking' tourist'

(Well I guess of you do some rucking while you are here ... )

[Uncle Ron]

edited for obvious reasons...

thanks for the stats about tourism...nothing everyone doesn't know....20 % is a lot..and there's a lot of peripheral income your not considering ......also a lot of people that are stoners have money to burn.....alot of them.......again I'm simply saying its a good relationship...if people can't see that...even if they are Dutch,,,,fuck them.......if they want to continue down a path of more restrictions and less tolerance, there are other great places looking to take there place....

Everyone doesn't know these stats as you put it, if so, the continued argument that the Dutch would go broke without the cannabis tourism, including Amsterdam, would cease. Less than 20% of 3% total GDP is a drop in the bucket, accounting for everything.
Moving on...
You see it as a good relationship, however there are a few million Dutch citizens who see it different. They don't have the appreciation that owners of coffee shops and related business feel (read profit), they only experience what it feels like when foreigners come and shit on their front yard, then scurry/crawl back home, throwing insults as they go.... until the next time they visit. This is more often the case than quiet peaceful considerate stoners floating about, not causing any disturbance. There are quite a few of us around, and we are tired of the continued cannatard attitude, and it needs to end.
A good start might be for those who treat The Netherlands as their personal toilet to take their money and fucked up attitude, and go somewhere else...
BTW, there will be a boat load of stoner drunks who'll be joining that party, cause they aren't wanted either...
Culling of the heard can at times be painful, but it must be done or the entire heard becomes infected. No simpler way to put it, either be part of something special or be part of the problem, too easy.
...

[oufc.sturdy]

In the times I've been to Amsterdam I personally have only seen drunken people causing trouble, shouting abuse etc im not sayin it ent there but speaking from experience and I'm prob not alone on this but after smoking dams finest I don't have it in me to fight cause trouble

[worldcitizen1723]

Well here goes my 2cents.

Stoners are important to Amsterdam, not the Netherlands. The stats about tourism, and pot tourism are accurate, however you need to consider that the pot tourism is mostly in Amsterdam. So that number, while small on a national level, is quite significant to Amsterdam's income.

Stoners are not all poor, or students. There are many rich stoners and some filthy rich stoners. They come to Amsterdam primarily for the pot and end up spending a ton of money on everything else. I don't consider myself a poor stoner (not rich either) and I spend a lot of money in Amsterdam, and have done so for many years. I come to the city 4-5 times per year and spend on average 5,000euro in the city each time (not including airfare). I have come here with friends who are very rich, and have seen how much they spend, and they chose to come to Amsterdam (over the Cayman Islands) because they wanted good hash. So when considering pot tourism, you have to take into account that this also includes rich potheads.

However, that still does not give stoners the right to act like they own the place. Obviously that's a shitty attitude and could reduce public support, etc... Having said that, smoking a joint around Centrum is no big deal, and doesn't really piss off people.

What he said!
++

I am not rich - nor am I poor. We spend mucho dinero while in Amsterdam every year. It is what we work for! I am uncomfortable quoting an amount. But there are many like us, who do the same. Certainly there would be a loss.

But Bad attitudes destroy it for all of us - and make life miserable for those that live there - discretion and respect for the gift of freedom that is offered, is the way to go.

[treetop]

Nobody likes tourists that act like they own the place. No matter what they do or do not do.