Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

i know there is a lot discussion about this subject an the last word is not yet spoken. but i wonder hwo it is possible to introduce such a ban. As far as i know, the government does not have a majority in the first chamber. has the first chamber agree to such a law/decision or is the government independent i a decision like this?
in other words how realistic is a ban even if the government want to introduce it?

It would be easy to introduce as Dutch nationals have ID cards and residents have stamps in their passports.

BUT a complete pain in the ass to police. the smoking ban has already failed with many bars i saw last week allowing smoking of ciggies inside. All the coffeeshops i went to didnt care about spliffs and tobacco.

carlazi wrote:It would be easy to introduce as Dutch nationals have ID cards and residents have stamps in their passports.

BUT a complete pain in the ass to police. the smoking ban has already failed with many bars i saw last week allowing smoking of ciggies inside. All the coffeeshops i went to didnt care about spliffs and tobacco.

FYI. The smoking ban in small cafes and bars has been lifted.

i may be completely wrong but how can they ban tourists when they are apart of the E.U.? I understand that they can make coffeeshops members only and only allow dutch citizens but then wouldnt that encourage alot more street dealers to sell to tourists, therefore alot more tourists getting into tricky situations buying drugs on the street?

As said previously because its still technically illegal normal EU regulations do not apply to coffee shops.

These weren't small bars, they were pretty large bars with more than the manager working behind the counter. I guess it will be inevitable that before long even bigger places will be allowing smoking.

carlazi wrote:As said previously because its still technically illegal normal EU regulations do not apply to coffee shops.

These weren't small bars, they were pretty large bars with more than the manager working behind the counter. I guess it will be inevitable that before long even bigger places will be allowing smoking.

I am stunned the Netherlands have managed to opt out of the smoking ban (tobacco) to be honest, even if it is only for, as you rightly point out, small establishments. Technically I believe here and now in the Netherlands you can allow smoking if you have no employees (family run business's).

As the smoking ban has been implemented, Europe wide on health protection for workers issues, this must be the loophole they are using. Still, I honestly thought it would be the Irish that found a way around this European directive!

Some bars in Amsterdam never banned smoking, one had a jar on the bar, anyone who smoked tobacco had to pay a 1 euro 'donation' to the Fine Jar!

Pure weed has never been banned from coffeeshops as the law is based around Tobacco. Pure is the way to go!!!

but how about the way that laws are made. Does the government have the power to enforce a law without the first chamber?

carlazi wrote:It would be easy to introduce as Dutch nationals have ID cards and residents have stamps in their passports.

BUT a complete pain in the ass to police. the smoking ban has already failed with many bars i saw last week allowing smoking of ciggies inside. All the coffeeshops i went to didnt care about spliffs and tobacco.

But EU residents do not need to carry their passports, only their EU ID cards.

Guess it depends on whether you want some weed or not

NedFlanders wrote:but how about the way that laws are made. Does the government have the power to enforce a law without the first chamber?

Where do you get the idea they do not have a majority? The VVD-CDA 'plus' PVV government is now in power and has the ability to pass laws.

i know but aren`t there two chambers (government and the provinces on the other side which have to agree to laws? maybe i`m wrong but i thought there is a similar sytem like in germany, whre the bundesländer have to agree to imporatnt laws

apparently from what i have read on this forum the decision on wether to ban tourists or not lays with a department called "rad van state" and a decision is due early next year, i dont really not much about this department and what they do but i think once they decide they make a recomendation to the government and then it goes to parliament where it would be debated by all partys including the opposition (and most of the opposing partys will object to this, especially the labour party, and the other partys will just to make a stand towards the government as many of them are dead against this new minority coalition which has only 76 seats out of 150) i think at this stage there is oppurtunity for changes to be made to the propostion, after this i think it needs to be approved by the senate and then if approved it would be enforced, from what i have read about this procedure on various web sites it would take approximately a year from start to finish.

Im no expert on this, i have just spent alot of time researching this topic and what i have said is just info gathered by me from various sources on line and from emails i received from various coffee shops and other establishments in holland, i must stress here im no expert and things can change eitjer way for the good or bad at anytime, nothing is certain, not even this new government, many people believe they wont last longer than 2 years or could fall at first major hurdle. And like someone pointed out to me, most of what we have read is just scare mongering from foreign press and the issue is not even top priority for the government.

I hope that all helps in some way, and to anyone else reading this, please no attacks today, im just answering a question with my opinions.

donpacino wrote:apparently from what i have read on this forum the decision on wether to ban tourists or not lays with a department called "rad van state" and a decision is due early next year, i dont really not much about this department and what they do but i think once they decide they make a recomendation to the government and then it goes to parliament where it would be debated by all partys including the opposition (and most of the opposing partys will object to this, especially the labour party, and the other partys will just to make a stand towards the government as many of them are dead against this new minority coalition which has only 76 seats out of 150) i think at this stage there is oppurtunity for changes to be made to the propostion, after this i think it needs to be approved by the senate and then if approved it would be enforced, from what i have read about this procedure on various web sites it would take approximately a year from start to finish.

Im no expert on this, i have just spent alot of time researching this topic and what i have said is just info gathered by me from various sources on line and from emails i received from various coffee shops and other establishments in holland, i must stress here im no expert and things can change eitjer way for the good or bad at anytime, nothing is certain, not even this new government, many people believe they wont last longer than 2 years or could fall at first major hurdle. And like someone pointed out to me, most of what we have read is just scare mongering from foreign press and the issue is not even top priority for the government.

I hope that all helps in some way, and to anyone else reading this, please no attacks today, im just answering a question with my opinions.

Excellent analysis! Especially the highlighted part.

Marco wrote:

donpacino wrote:apparently from what i have read on this forum the decision on wether to ban tourists or not lays with a department called "rad van state" and a decision is due early next year, i dont really not much about this department and what they do but i think once they decide they make a recomendation to the government and then it goes to parliament where it would be debated by all partys including the opposition (and most of the opposing partys will object to this, especially the labour party, and the other partys will just to make a stand towards the government as many of them are dead against this new minority coalition which has only 76 seats out of 150) i think at this stage there is oppurtunity for changes to be made to the propostion, after this i think it needs to be approved by the senate and then if approved it would be enforced, from what i have read about this procedure on various web sites it would take approximately a year from start to finish.

Im no expert on this, i have just spent alot of time researching this topic and what i have said is just info gathered by me from various sources on line and from emails i received from various coffee shops and other establishments in holland, i must stress here im no expert and things can change eitjer way for the good or bad at anytime, nothing is certain, not even this new government, many people believe they wont last longer than 2 years or could fall at first major hurdle. And like someone pointed out to me, most of what we have read is just scare mongering from foreign press and the issue is not even top priority for the government.

I hope that all helps in some way, and to anyone else reading this, please no attacks today, im just answering a question with my opinions.

Excellent analysis! Especially the highlighted part.

LOL

Yeah i think Mr wilders has another target closer to his heart.