Shocked passers by

[thompaw]

One's perception, of course, is in question while one's half baked.

I recall riding into the Centrum the first day of my first visit ever, establishing eye contact with some young people sitting outside a coffeeshop. Who knows what the guy thought as I was thinking to myself, "holy shit! Those kids are stoned! Smoking and sitting right in front of the shop that sold them the herb!"

Does anyone like having alcohol shoved in their face when they are not imbibing? Stands to reason smoking herb would be the same, no?

[Smith2]

No, and that's one of the reasons I rarely sit outside a pub or coffeeshop and drink or smoke. Other factors include the British/Dutch weather, an aversion to exhaust fumes and a disinclination to be an exhibit.

But it's an indication, really, how little has changed in the last 40 years or so, and why decriminalisation is a fudge. I was acutely aware of this when going to a concert in the Concertgebouw last year. I fancied a smoke beforehand, but there aren't any coffeeshops nearby, and the weather ruled out Vondelpark. But there was a festival going on, and any number of stalls where I could have bought a drink, apart from the various cafés, and nobody would have batted an eye. Had I discreetly lit up a joint, I'd probably have got away with nothing worse than a few withering looks – but I wouldn't. Not what we'd hoped for all those years ago.

[Veggie]

Marco...kep telling yourself that pussy boy ..YOU might even one day believe it....that's the thing boy, you are the pussy Internet troll....you're weak and a coward....you did not have to spend five seconds looking for me. ..I told you where I would be and when ...and told you I would come to you......keep blowing your trumpet from across the sea....you are a gutless coward and I don't need yours or anyone else's permission to come to amsterdam whenever I feel like it....I'll be sure to let you know when I'll be there just in case you grow a pair by then...

Uncle Ron.....any one knows those stats cuz everyone has google........I never said the Netherlands would fall apart nor did I say amsterdam would fall apart......but amsterdam would be hit hard if cannabis went away........I still fail to see how smoking a joint outside is acting rude or thumbing your nose at anyone.......I've seen very few stoners with bad attitudes

[oufc.sturdy]

I don't see the problem in smoking outside a coffeeshop that has seating provided if it wernt allowed or was a prob they wouldn't be there surely? I doubt any coffeeshop wants to attract any bad attention as it is so if it were a real problem i would of that they would get rid of outdoor seating avoid hassle etc.
obviously I don't think you should walk down the high street smoking a fat joint but I don't see much harm in smoking discreetly in more quiet areas showing respect for others, but having said that I been quite amazed at how many Dutch people smoke weed so blatantly, I remember the last time I went in jan2013 I approached to older guys in there late 50s for directions in dam square an they were both smoking joints an when I got into conversation with them basically they said the locals are ok we tolerate it etc

[Paco]

Its a never ending story.

[spidergawd]

Its a never ending story.

[ed the head]

In my times in Amsterdam when it's not raining, foggy or freezing, I like to smoke and drink outside the Green Place, Greenhouse or various weed friendly bars. Occasionally I have noticed passers by on foot taking an interest in what I'm smoking. These looks range from "gee that looks good - wish I had time to do the same" to downright appalled shock! Even heard a guy turn to his wife and say "they are even doing it on the street NOW!"

I found that incredibly funny, I was sitting on a bench on a pavement drinking coffee and smoking a little doobie doing no harm at all.

Anyone else had experiences like that?

Cheers
Yip

Because you were sitting on CS property, you were obeying law (and custom).
The Tao says to the effect 'care about the opinions of others and you become their prisoner'.
Don't worry about any of it.

[GrowTall]

In my times in Amsterdam when it's not raining, foggy or freezing, I like to smoke and drink outside the Green Place, Greenhouse or various weed friendly bars. Occasionally I have noticed passers by on foot taking an interest in what I'm smoking. These looks range from "gee that looks good - wish I had time to do the same" to downright appalled shock! Even heard a guy turn to his wife and say "they are even doing it on the street NOW!"

I found that incredibly funny, I was sitting on a bench on a pavement drinking coffee and smoking a little doobie doing no harm at all.

Anyone else had experiences like that?

Cheers
Yip

i have had so many.... people... argh i can't even bring myself to talk about this.

when i see people act shocked and unhappy about a person smoking marijuana it makes me very sad, that is exactly what the media wanted them to think and they did such a good job on some people.

[Felty]

Everyone does the same thing for amsterdam, book the flights and room and then save up as much cash as physically possible to smoke away.
Good economy.

Like I said earlier, supermarkets and Internet sites are what puts amsterdams retail/tourism at risk. The city is mainly small family run shops, and that's what I love about it. Smoking weed outside isn't going to change anything. The people who tut and moan walking past coffee shops are probably just as judgemental when they walk down the RL district.

[greenking]

id say smoking a joint in public in amsterdam is pretty harmless compared to the shit that the football fans started yesterday amongst the stag partys and a bunch of other shit im sure the locals are way more pissed off about than someone smoking a joint...

Would have to agree last time I was over in November twice in same evening the football thugs were getting the asses handed to em by local police, man the Dutch police don't mess about lol had thugs running a mock crashing and banging all over the place doing damage while there at it,
anyways way I look at I drinking is more of a problem to locals then blazing but no harm using the seated area provided by the cs but allways still respect the locals and their customs

[Lamont]

I love sitting on the bench outside Amnesia, puffing on a joint, and enjoying the beautiful Herengracht. If I'm smoking outside anywhere else than a CS then I try to be very discreet and respectful.

Seems like common sense....

[Kingdoc]

In my times in Amsterdam when it's not raining, foggy or freezing, I like to smoke and drink outside the Green Place, Greenhouse or various weed friendly bars. Occasionally I have noticed passers by on foot taking an interest in what I'm smoking. These looks range from "gee that looks good - wish I had time to do the same" to downright appalled shock! Even heard a guy turn to his wife and say "they are even doing it on the street NOW!"

I found that incredibly funny, I was sitting on a bench on a pavement drinking coffee and smoking a little doobie doing no harm at all.

Anyone else had experiences like that?

Cheers
Yip

Christ i though you were gona talk about the time when the boxers & the t shirt went out the door/window!! lol dont worry about that wallet, I had that!!

[gronin]

Marco...kep telling yourself that pussy boy ..YOU might even one day believe it....that's the thing boy, you are the pussy Internet troll....you're weak and a coward....you did not have to spend five seconds looking for me. ..I told you where I would be and when ...and told you I would come to you......keep blowing your trumpet from across the sea....you are a gutless coward and I don't need yours or anyone else's permission to come to amsterdam whenever I feel like it....I'll be sure to let you know when I'll be there just in case you grow a pair by then...

Uncle Ron.....any one knows those stats cuz everyone has google........I never said the Netherlands would fall apart nor did I say amsterdam would fall apart......but amsterdam would be hit hard if cannabis went away........I still fail to see how smoking a joint outside is acting rude or thumbing your nose at anyone.......I've seen very few stoners with bad attitudes

I've seen stoners with very bad attitudes... "What do you mean I can't smoke in the Post Office? It's the fucking dam" etc etc. Some of them even come on here making immature comments about 'pussy internet trolls'. Terrible attitude I'm sure you'll agree?

If tourists smoking outside - and the weed fucking stinks - irritates locals, is that OK with you?

For facts on the relative unimportance of canna-tourism to Amsterdam; see this...

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/amsterd ... blications

[j-smoker]

I just love reading threads like this. I find it extremely amusing how wound up people get about things.

personally I wonder how much weed induced paranoia is a factor in the original posters question. However if you behave with respect then locals will not pay any attention to you. Look at it this way- if you live and work in Amsterdam, what do you think your opinion would be of weed tourists? Do you not think you too would dislike stag party/ned/chavy types behaving like a bunch of cavemen, treating the place like a total free for all.

Like iv stated on other threads the atmosphere in Amsterdam has changed in recent years, mainly because of morons acting with no respect. These morons ruin it for everyone else - locals and tourists.

I have always characterised dutch tolerance as "do what you want- as long as it doesn't piss anyone off". If you think what your doing is pissing locals off, stop doing it. simples.

[USbongLord]

I like when drunk people fall in the canal