Dutch city to close cannabis cafes near schools

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Fri 29th May 2009 05:36 am

Dutch city to close cannabis cafes near schools
May 28, 2009

The Dutch city of Rotterdam will close 16 cannabis-vending coffee shops from June 1 that lie within a 250-metre radius of certain schools, mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb's office said Thursday.

"The decision concerns 16 coffee shops that are near secondary schools, as well as primary schools for children with learning and behavioural problems," mayoral spokeswoman Anja Pels told AFP.

The move follows a municipal council decision of June 2007 which was later unsuccessfully appealed by coffee shops. Rotterdam currently has 62 cannabis cafes.

The Netherlands decriminalised the consumption of cannabis, and the possession of less than five grams, in 1976. Its cultivation and wholesale remains prohibited.

The Dutch capital city, Amsterdam, announced in November last year the closure of dozens of coffee shops near schools, out of a total of 228.

Several other Dutch municipalities have recently also announced plans to shutter all or part of the coffee shops within their borders, partly to discourage crime and what they describe as the nuisance of drug tourism.

Source

hippy_man99 · Post by **hippy_man99** » Fri 29th May 2009 05:39 am

yeah they'll realize that drug tourists aren't so bad when the drug criminals come back....

sh@dy · Post by **sh@dy** » Fri 29th May 2009 09:39 am

hippy_man99 wrote:yeah they'll realize that drug tourists aren't so bad when the drug criminals come back....

maybe this is what many politicians want? since we go to the netherlands often and talk to locals I have learned much about this busines, politicians can take more money from some criminals than from an official coffeeshop

hippy_man99 · Post by **hippy_man99** » Fri 29th May 2009 10:21 am

corruption and greed...

seems like the universal currency of the powerful....
unfortunately...

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Fri 29th May 2009 10:27 am

hippy_man99 wrote:yeah they'll realize that drug tourists aren't so bad when the drug criminals come back....

Yea! especialy when they offer speed & E as well.

doobydave · Post by **doobydave** » Fri 29th May 2009 10:43 am

So retarded.

Might be worth finding some illegal suppliers out there sooner rather than later. At least you wont be paying any tax on the stuff.......

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Tue 2nd Jun 2009 06:17 am

Rotterdam Closes Cannabis Outlets
01 June 2009

Sixteen 'coffeeshops' - the famous Dutch outlets which are allowed to sell cannabis - have been shut down in Rotterdam. The city council says they were closed in line with a new government policy banning the sale of soft drugs from outlets within 250 metres of schools.

The rules are designed to try and discourage youngsters from using marijuana. Rotterdam police say they will be keeping a keen eye on drug dealers to make sure they do not set up business from home in a bid to circumvent the ban. There are still 45 'coffeeshops' in Rotterdam following the closure of the ones nearest high schools.

The number of 'coffeeshops' in the Netherlands is being scaled back. In November, Amsterdam announced it was closing down 43 premises. At the same time city mayor Job Cohen insisted the city was standing by its three-decade-old policy of tolerating 'soft drug' sales.

Cannabis is not legal in the Netherlands, but it can be sold freely in small amounts in the licensed 'coffeeshops'. Paradoxically, it remains strictly illegal for the coffeeshops to buy in their supplies of cannabis wholesale.

Supporters of the Dutch approach point out that cannabis consumption in the Netherlands is lower than in surrounding European countries, which still operate a purely repressive policy. They also point out that as far as health is concerned, alcohol causes much more damage.

Source