So the Weed pass thing? and your thoughts?

[piedpiperofvice]

so puff i am lazy for not supporting your idea which even you admit will probably have minimal impact ,but you are not lazy for failing to try my idea. can't i say the same thing about you. "wow, you are a real defeatist for not trying and have a lazy attitude. we can at least try" we can disagree on the method to react but that does not make me lazy and you brilliant for failing to engage in the other's methods. see what i am saying

To be honest I'm not sure what idea you're talking about as you've made so many posts here in the last couple of days. Can you please tell me which one. I'm in the middle of a series of 8-16 hour days at work so limited time.

But you said letter writing would do no good in your opinion. So, to me, that appears you don't even want to think of that idea. OK my view is different and that is we should try all we can, who knows for sure what will or won't work? None of us. Anything is worth a try. All too often people moan and complain about something but not always to the right people or those in a position to do something about it.
The number of times I hear people complain about something, but then I try and do something to change it (and succeed) they all can't believe what I've done. I'm thinking here more about issues with my apartment complex (Sky TV installation for one issue) rather than taking on the might of the Netherlands government! But why not apply the same principle - if we want to try and change a future policy plan then why not try everything we can, even if it doesn't work. If we can't do that one simple thing then maybe we are lazy - though I recognise that comes across a bit harsh. My neighbours could have got Sky TV a lot sooner if they'd got off their butt and tried to do something!!

You're very vocal on here, which is great, but how vocal have you been with those people that matter. And how vocal have you been in getting the message out that this discriminatory plan is unacceptable.

I hear what you say about using your name on any letter to the Government. Why do you think I didn't send mine by e-mail but instead used the name of a previous tenant of my flat.

any of the ideas i've mentioned. i am just mentioning that you won't consider my idea yet if i dismiss yours i am lazy and don't want to try anything. logically , i can say the same if you don't want to try my idea. bottom line you can say you don't like my idea and don't want to support it because you feel it is not workable i can say the same. we are not lazy we just disagree and would rather put our efforts into another idea. i ,actually, think most of my ideas mentioned, actually, take more effort than writing a letter.

[weedhog]

so puff i am lazy for not supporting your idea which even you admit will probably have minimal impact ,but you are not lazy for failing to try my idea. can't i say the same thing about you. "wow, you are a real defeatist for not trying and have a lazy attitude. we can at least try" we can disagree on the method to react but that does not make me lazy and you brilliant for failing to engage in the other's methods. see what i am saying

To be honest I'm not sure what idea you're talking about as you've made so many posts here in the last couple of days. Can you please tell me which one. I'm in the middle of a series of 8-16 hour days at work so limited time.

But you said letter writing would do no good in your opinion. So, to me, that appears you don't even want to think of that idea. OK my view is different and that is we should try all we can, who knows for sure what will or won't work? None of us. Anything is worth a try. All too often people moan and complain about something but not always to the right people or those in a position to do something about it.
The number of times I hear people complain about something, but then I try and do something to change it (and succeed) they all can't believe what I've done. I'm thinking here more about issues with my apartment complex (Sky TV installation for one issue) rather than taking on the might of the Netherlands government! But why not apply the same principle - if we want to try and change a future policy plan then why not try everything we can, even if it doesn't work. If we can't do that one simple thing then maybe we are lazy - though I recognise that comes across a bit harsh. My neighbours could have got Sky TV a lot sooner if they'd got off their butt and tried to do something!!

You're very vocal on here, which is great, but how vocal have you been with those people that matter. And how vocal have you been in getting the message out that this discriminatory plan is unacceptable.

I hear what you say about using your name on any letter to the Government. Why do you think I didn't send mine by e-mail but instead used the name of a previous tenant of my flat.

any of the ideas i've mentioned. i am just mentioning that you won't consider my idea yet if i dismiss yours i am lazy and don't want to try anything. logically , i can say the same if you don't want to try my idea. bottom line you can say you don't like my idea and don't want to support it because you feel it is not workable i can say the same. we are not lazy we just disagree and would rather put our efforts into another idea. i ,actually, think most of my ideas mentioned, actually, take more effort than writing a letter.

LMAO, I doubt very seriously that your gonna find any "benefactors" willing to just donate money to the coffeshops, hell we been doing that for years with the exorbitant price of cofeeshop weed.

[dconstrukt]

LOL donate money to the coffeeshops?

dude... you gotta get us the shit you're smoking... must be hella-good!

these shops operate on a CASH ONLY basis... i.e. they bank and pay less tax than you could imagine... trust me... they aren't hurting for money bro.

[treetop]

how old are you, treetop?

40+

[ledgrowlightca]

probably isnt gonna happen .

[Colino]

This is from Nol Van Schaik Facebook page

Dutch Court blew up Schengen agreement, by denying co-Europeans the right to the free exchange of goods and knowledge.

By forcing the Coffeeshops to refuse foreigners access to their coffeeshops and their cannabis, the Schengen agreement could as well be printed on toilet paper.
It is just a big pile of shit now.

[dude65]

Ohoh, that doesn't sound good.

[BigDanHaze]

Well folks, better plan your farewell trips, we lost the court case and we will be banned from the coffeeshops after january.
Im going for my farewell tour in August/Sept for 2-3 weeks.....sad, sad times thanks moral police!

[RvanSteensel]

maastricht just lost the battle

[devilswin99]

Got my final trip planned for two weeks from now. So sad that you can take something that works so well and is a license to print money, and just throw it all away.

Colorado is only a 1 hour flight away. Silver lining I guess!

[la2019]

I don't think its over just yet, for Amsterdam at any rate. First off, everything I've read says that the local government in Amsterdam strongly disagrees with the new law and will not enforce it, just as other municipalities have vowed. Then, the government has to prosecute a shop for noncompliance, which will become a test case in court. At that point, the REAL issue has it's best chance to heard (not the discrimination issue, which is a non-starter IMO, because weed is technically illegal)--and that issue is that the government is shutting down an entire industry by enforcing legislation that is impossible to comply with, in the guise of controlling a public nuisance. Because then the case can be, essentially, the government saying "The shop is not complying", with the defense being "I will go out of business if I do."

Of course, the shops can lose that one, too; I'm just saying that stage of the argument is yet to occur. And in Amsterdam, the shops will have an ally with some weight behind it. Again, doesn't mean they're going to win for sure, just that I believe the fight goes on.

Between the 2 extremes (break the law and risk prosecution vs. comply and go out of business), compromise often lives. Who knows what that might look like, but it might just include a city like Amsterdam keeping the tourist trade going. You never know.

By the time the government goes after the shops, and then the municipalities (if that's how it goes), it also becomes an issue of who has the most energy to keep fighting? Who has the most to lose? During all of that, if I'm not mistaken, there's an election being held. Even if the conservative parties stand to make gains (which I've only read as opinions here, I have no idea), will this issue help them or hurt them? I don't know, but it's yet another factor to consider. And if the conservatives lose ground, it's hard to see how this law can sustain momentum if it's still subject to ongoing legal battles.

Finally, the two articles I read on the BBC both said that coffeeshops have had to remove "popular strains" due to the 15% reclassification, but from everything I'm reading here, and from the recent menu pics I've seen online, that just ain't so! There's always the possibility that the law's the law, but they just won't follow it at risk. They do, after all, take a legal risk every time they restock.

I know Nol sounds really pessimistic--and of course he is!! How could he not be? For me, it's "will I ever be able to go and have a blast in my favorite place on Earth again?", while his entire way of life is under threat. He wants this resolved, and resolved NOW. With every setback, the uncertainty grows. I really feel for everyone who's livelihood is under this cloud. He'll still defy the order when it comes, but he can't be looking forward to it. I'm sure he was hoping it wouldn't come to this point.

But he and the other owners can still win.

My next trip is in March, 2013. I'm planning to be there. It's a risk, I know, but my instinct says it's a reasonable one to take! I'm pretty confident that we'll be OK--even as I'm really sad that it's reached this point.

[treetop]

LA2019 wrote - issue is that the government is shutting down an entire industry by enforcing legislation that is impossible to comply with, in the guise of controlling a public nuisance.

Absolutely the crux of the issue.

The National government is using a chainsaw to trim a seedling.

Would it not be easier and more practical to have a simple process to decide whether a particular coffeeshop has become a public nuisance. This is an awful over reaction to what is essentially a local issue. The local authority could easily be given the power to close down coffeeshops that are deemed to be a public nuisance. On top of this licenses for coffeeshops should have to be renewed regularly.

Actually in my view there should be standards and inspections for coffeeshops. They should be kept on their toes. If they don't meet minimum standards for the premises and their product they should be closed down. Just as would any other business.

There should be rules which are controlled by local people through their elected representative. If local people don't want coffeeshops then they just elect someone who will close them down. That is the will of the people in action. People in Amsterdam don't want people in the south of the country deciding their laws or vice versa.

Let local people decide whether coffeeshops should remain.


We will just have to let the chips fall as they may and hope the Dutch people want to keep coffeeshops. I'm hopeful of a positive outcome in the long term but fearful the ban could go into operation for a while before it gets scrapped for whatever reason.

[Slip & Sal]

There wont be a ban on tourists in Amsterdam buying weed or hash. Its just not going to happen. Stop worrying about nothing

ahem!

"A spokesperson for the Dutch government"

says it all really...

"I work for an airline and see who goes to Amsterdam - there's absolutely no doubt stoners are in the minority"

So you can tell by looking at someone if they will use a coffeeshop?

The weedpass has nothing to do with Amsterdam, nothing at all. It has nothing to do with tourists either, it is purely about smuggling.

You're all just paranoid..

paranoid???

The proposal has yet to become law
The proposal has yet to become law,
The proposal has yet to become law,

Is this statement wrong?

My answer?

No it is not, categorically not. prove me wrong if you disagree.

The Coffeeshops in amsterdam know this, hence they are not panicking like some on here. They also know for any law to pass that actually affects Amsterdam will take years anyway!

You guys need to chill.

As of Jan 30th 2012 @ 20.25 a tourist will be able to by weed in Amsterdam in January 2013.....FACT

no.


sad news.

[KeyMonCha]

Now even i can't believe the pessimism on this thread... Really, so many sound like they've given in and accepted it already... Maybe i'm just a delusional simpleton with no short term memory, but i really think that Amsterdam itself is going to pull through all this! The fact is that Amsterdam stands alone when it comes to policy anyway... It always has, and that's why the coffeeshops started springing up there in the first place... The mayor, the economy and the essential quirkiness of the City depends on it, along with various other factors. What are they going to do, deploy the army into the city on Jan 1st and demand all shops close their doors immediately? ...I seriously doubt it!

I'm not saying the whole thing is going to go away, but i think the only choice the Dutch government has is to leave Amsterdam as the one place this stupid arse law does not apply... Otherwise there will be a hell of a lot of explaining to do when the city not only loses money from tourists, but also has to spend a fortune on enforcing the new drug laws, crime prevention and the ongoing anti-social behaviour of the pisshead, prossie bangers!

I'm going to Spain next week... I'm going to find some decent shit there and enjoy it on the balcony! I'll do the Dam one more time before Christmas and get a better idea of what's happening then!

[spidergawd]

Now even i can't believe the pessimism on this thread.......

......I'm going to Spain next week... I'm going to find some decent shit there and enjoy it on the balcony!

Quite agree ......

......and please let us know how it is in Spain