Dutch weed growers seek their fortunes in California
31 October 2010
By Margot Minjon
Dutch weed growers and coffeeshop owners have already flown out to California. They are waiting for a referendum on the legalisation of marijuana, which will be held next week. They anticipate an opportunity to become rich men if the citizens of California vote in favour of legalisation.
The Netherlands has been a major source of inspiration for both the supporters and opponents of legislation. Supporters point to the success of the Dutch policy of tolerating the sale of small quantities of hashish and marijuana in so-called 'coffeeshops'. Opponents also use statistics from the Netherlands to support their view.
The man behind the referendum is 47-year-old Richard Lee. In 1991 he visited Amsterdam for the first time: "Fantastic. A wide variety of shops with coffeeshops paying tax and creating jobs. And it attracts tourists. We had to have that here too."
Coffeeshops with an Amsterdam feel
In 1999 he opened a Bulldog coffeeshop in Oakland, near San Francisco. With the same logo as the Amsterdam Bulldog and the same atmosphere. A sidewalk cafe, loud music and a smoking room where people with glazed expressions stare at a TV with the sound turned down. Of course you can't buy weed there yet, because of the police. However, they do tolerate you bringing your own stash along.
There is now a second coffeeshop in Oakland, the Blue Sky, which sells medical marijuana and has a similar Amsterdam feel.
In 2006 Richard Lee opened Oaksterdam University, modelled on the Cannabis College in Amsterdam. This gives courses relating to weed growing and is expanding fast. Compulsory subjects include law, the history of marijuana, and commodity studies. You can go on to train as a weed topper or coffeeshop manager. If California decides to legalise, this is where the experts will come from. The university - an unprotected title in the United States- has already awarded 12,000 diplomas.
'Oaksterdam'
The entire district in Oakland is known as Oaksterdam. Just like Amsterdam, there are bikes for hire and a cannabis gift shop. And there's an Amsterdam-style hashish museum. One of its most valued exhibits is an old price list from an Amsterdam coffeeshop, with the prices still in guilders!
Richard Lee came up with the legalisation referendum and paid for it out of his own pocket. It cost him 2.7 million dollars.
If it succeeds, the local authorities will issue licences for large-scale growing to supply the coffeeshops. The place is already swarming with Dutch coffeeshop owners and growers hoping for licences. "There's no doubt the Dutch weed industry would do very well here, since they have so much experience," says Lee. He plans to set up hundreds of Dutch-style coffeeshops.
Opponents also point to Amsterdam
Opponents of legislation also point to the Dutch model. Their main spokesperson is drug information officer John Redman.
"The other side are always talking about how weed does no harm and how wonderful it is in Amsterdam. So, let's look at the experiences in the Netherlands: the easier it is to get hold of weed and the more normal it's regarded to light up a joint, the greater the consumption."
He points out that marijuana addiction has caused serious problems in the Netherlands. However the figures for hashish and marijuana use in the Netherlands are actually lower than in other European countries with tougher legislation.
28.5 grams and four plants
Redman claims the amount of hashish and weed that coffeeshops are allowed to sell has been reduced due to problems with drug abuse.
"If the referendum succeeds, as much as 28.5 grams would be permitted in California and it would be legal to have four plants. Imagine how much worse it will be than in the Netherlands, where 0.5 grams has already cause problems."
Is he sure about these figures? "Of course, the drug information service in the US has been saying this for ten years." I google the Dutch figures for him: thirty grams is allowed for personal use, coffeeshops can sell five grams at a time, and you are allowed five plants. John Redman's face turns pale. Just at that moment a van arrives to take him to the airport. He leaves hastily without further comment.
The knock-on effect
If the legalisation proposal is accepted, US President Barack Obama will be faced with a serious problem. The federal laws making cannabis illegal are still in place, as are the international treaties. Sending federal agents to California to bring weed smokers before the federal courts would cost an enormous amount of money and he risks damaging his popularity in California. If he does nothing he will alienate other parts of the United States.
So far, the opinion polls predict the referendum will be a neck-and-neck race.
Source
Dutch weed growers seek their fortunes in California
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cantona7
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lol they are jumping the gun to say the least. as much as i hope (and think) the bill will pass its FAR from certain. willing to bet the # of dutch going is being exaggerated too. cant see why they would leave their home/families when they can already make a living in the cannabis industry in Holland.interesting article though.
educating myself and waiting for the next trip.
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If I wasn't married, I'd be planning my move out there and already be working to make contacts in the industry to land a job. I have a strong background in retail management and at the very least would be qualified to run a coffeeshop, or oversee multiple shops.
Unfortunately, I will never convince my wife to move across the country, away from her family, because I want to work in the marijuana industry.
Unfortunately, I will never convince my wife to move across the country, away from her family, because I want to work in the marijuana industry.
Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly?
Yep I have heard that those with experience in Amsterdam are just waiting to hit Cali hard if this goes through.
I wonder about the visa issue too. Mind you, these guys bring money with them, they could easily set up non-weed businesses and get an EB-5 green card.
From some basic research, you need between half a mil and a full mil to get the green card. I think coffeeshop owners should not have a problem with that.
I wonder about the visa issue too. Mind you, these guys bring money with them, they could easily set up non-weed businesses and get an EB-5 green card.
From some basic research, you need between half a mil and a full mil to get the green card. I think coffeeshop owners should not have a problem with that.
I guess the Dutch American Friendship treaty does not go both ways as you need sometime like less than 3000 to start a business here as an American.wietroker wrote:Yep I have heard that those with experience in Amsterdam are just waiting to hit Cali hard if this goes through.
I wonder about the visa issue too. Mind you, these guys bring money with them, they could easily set up non-weed businesses and get an EB-5 green card.
From some basic research, you need between half a mil and a full mil to get the green card. I think coffeeshop owners should not have a problem with that.
I forgot about that. The above is for anyone around the world.Marco wrote:I guess the Dutch American Friendship treaty does not go both ways as you need sometime like less than 3000 to start a business here as an American.wietroker wrote:Yep I have heard that those with experience in Amsterdam are just waiting to hit Cali hard if this goes through.
I wonder about the visa issue too. Mind you, these guys bring money with them, they could easily set up non-weed businesses and get an EB-5 green card.
From some basic research, you need between half a mil and a full mil to get the green card. I think coffeeshop owners should not have a problem with that.
I just checked, DAFT is only for US citizens coming to NL, not the other way around.wietroker wrote:I forgot about that. The above is for anyone around the world.Marco wrote:I guess the Dutch American Friendship treaty does not go both ways as you need sometime like less than 3000 to start a business here as an American.wietroker wrote:Yep I have heard that those with experience in Amsterdam are just waiting to hit Cali hard if this goes through.
I wonder about the visa issue too. Mind you, these guys bring money with them, they could easily set up non-weed businesses and get an EB-5 green card.
From some basic research, you need between half a mil and a full mil to get the green card. I think coffeeshop owners should not have a problem with that.
Last edited by Marco on Sun 31st Oct 2010 04:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I don't know, but for half a mil to a mil, ANYONE in the world can live in the US. That's what I meant. I checked and it looks like the treaty is one-way only which kinda sucks - what's in it for the Dutch?Marco wrote:I am not sure, does it go both ways?wietroker wrote:I forgot about that. The above is for anyone around the world.Marco wrote: I guess the Dutch American Friendship treaty does not go both ways as you need sometime like less than 3000 to start a business here as an American.
I mentioned above, but when the treaty was signed, it made it easier for American entrepreneurs to live in Holland.wietroker wrote:I don't know, but for half a mil to a mil, ANYONE in the world can live in the US. That's what I meant. I checked and it looks like the treaty is one-way only which kinda sucks - what's in it for the Dutch?Marco wrote:I am not sure, does it go both ways?wietroker wrote: I forgot about that. The above is for anyone around the world.
