Dutch mayors meet to discuss drug tourism
18/11/2008
About 30 municipalities will gather on Friday to discuss about the problems brought on by drug tourism.
THE HAGUE - Dutch mayors are to meet Friday in a bid to clamp down on the nuisance they say is being created by foreign tourists drawn to the country's cannabis-vending coffee shops.
The gathering of municipal leaders, organised by the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) in Almere, north-east of Amsterdam, was arranged to compile a list of "sticking points" which would be given to the ministries of health, justice and internal affairs.
"Border communities are increasingly contending with drug tourism and the nuisance associated therewith," the association said in a statement.
"Some municipalities have simply had enough. The time has come for discussion." Some 30 municipalities had indicated their participation by Monday, VNG spokesman Asha Khoenkhoen told AFP.
The meeting follows the announcement by Roosendaal and Bergen-op-Zoom, two southern Dutch municipalities close to the Belgian border, that they were closing their coffee shops, establishments with special licenses to sell cannabis, from 1 February 2009.
The mayors of the two towns, who claim to have seen a rise in the influx of Belgian and French drug tourists, contend that the 25,000-odd foreigners visiting their coffee shops every week had "a notably negative impact on the public order".
Last week, the Dutch government announced a ban from 1 December on the cultivation and sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms, another favourite among foreign visitors to Amsterdam.
The Dutch media has reported that some political parties, including the PvdA labour party, a member of the governing coalition, were becoming more and more critical of the country's tolerant approach to so-called "soft drugs" such as cannabis.
The ruling Christian democratic CDA has always criticised this approach, which allows coffee shops to sell five grams of cannabis to an individual per day.
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Dutch mayors meet to discuss drug tourism
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Looneytunes
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Thu 23rd Oct 2008 12:39 pm
- Location: Leeds, UK
You never know about these crazy christian politicians.kantharr wrote:as far as i remember in one of puffin13 reports, they will not start any discussion about a change in their policy before 2011
What appears in a news article one day could be completely different the next day. Dont you just love politicians appointed to "serve the people"? I dont. 
Love n Peace.Cannabis is The Tree of Life
Don't want to sound negative or anything, but it's called life. Look back through history and you will see things shift, cultures change, they rise and fall.
As the Netherlands become less tolerant, then somewhere else will take over.
Even Christiana is coming under huge pressure and probably won't last too much longer. New places will take over, trust me, you cannot keep it down. If it is heavily oppressed the world over, then you'll eventually see a huge backlash against that, and it will be legal all over the world.
Look guys, Marijuana has been made illegal many times in History, and has never once been illegal for more than 100 years. 1927 was when it was made illegal, so we looking for pre-2027. I know that's still a long way away, but believe in the power of marijuana. It will never disappear, we just might have to travel further to get it as easily. or not, as the case may be.
As the Netherlands become less tolerant, then somewhere else will take over.
Even Christiana is coming under huge pressure and probably won't last too much longer. New places will take over, trust me, you cannot keep it down. If it is heavily oppressed the world over, then you'll eventually see a huge backlash against that, and it will be legal all over the world.
Look guys, Marijuana has been made illegal many times in History, and has never once been illegal for more than 100 years. 1927 was when it was made illegal, so we looking for pre-2027. I know that's still a long way away, but believe in the power of marijuana. It will never disappear, we just might have to travel further to get it as easily. or not, as the case may be.
Just trying to be 'En Vogue'
Hope you're right Soul Rider, its true that where theres a will theres a way, and many people value the spiritual draw to Amsterdam. There have always been those in Dutch politics against its liberal stance but these seem to be getting more agitated of late and there will come a time when they will try to change things. I will keep as much of an eye on how things develop and thanks to Puffin for yet another informative post.
Roll on Weds 26th when I will fly by the Dam for another 2 day adventure
Roll on Weds 26th when I will fly by the Dam for another 2 day adventure
old(ish)dog on his own path thru the undergrowth