Haarlem (again)

[doctordude]

Another interesting update out of Haarlem. I'm still skeptical, since this is a city-thing while the wietpas is a national law. But the important point here is something else: "This project found support from all political parties, including VVD and CDA" And this is somewhat new, since so far mainly PvdA politicians spoke out against the wietpas.

Haarlem introduces Hallmark for coffeeshops on Jan 1, 2013, not the Weedpass.

Wednesday, 10 October 2012 09:54 | Written by Nol van Schaik

Yesterday, the Haarlem City Council and Mayor Bernt Schneiders have decided to introduce The Hallmark for coffeeshops on the day that other Cities will be forced to introduce the Weedpass, nameli January 1, 2013. This project found support from all political parties, including VVD and CDA, the parties responsible for the failing Weedpass project.

The Hallmark will be awarded to all Haarlem coffeeshops, if and after they passed a special screening to check on eventual criminal activities around the coffeeshops (Bibob Law), this process is going already, it is expected all screenings will be done this year.

There is a special commission to oversee the criteria of the Haarlem Hallmark, consisting of representatives of the City of Haarlem, the National Health Service (GGD), the Drugspolicy Foundation, cannabis consumers organization We Smoke and Wernard Bruining, founder of Amsterdam's first coffeeshop, Mellow Yellow.

There are no juidicial sanctions involved in the Hallmark, the Hallmark can be denied to a coffeeshop does not live up to the Hallmark criteria.

The Haarlem Hallmark also includes a new sanction system for the coffeeshops carrying the Hallmark, they will no longer be closed 6 months on a first offense. A sanction step-up plan is being worked out by the parties involved, this will also be activated on the day the Hallmark will be introduced.

Haarlem has no plans to introduce the Weedpass system on January 1, 2013.

Nol van Schaik, secretary THC.

[A Leprechaun]

Check the place out it is pretty cool and the weed in my opinion is top notch.

[craig bell]

if this is deemed a success i can see it rolling out nationwide. I still don't know the full ins/outs of this hallmark scheme. Will it still be ok for tourists to enter cs and make a purchase and sit n smoke????. Can anyone fill in the details of this plan.

[doctordude]

Will it still be ok for tourists to enter cs and make a purchase and sit n smoke????. Can anyone fill in the details of this plan.

As I understand it, nothing will change for the customer. So yes, you could still purchase and smoke as you're used to do. The burden would be placed on the coffeeshop: to keep an eye on activities around the shop and make sure that the "public order" is not disturbed. This means additional personal, which could translate to slightly higher prices. Also there is precedent (e.g. Nobody's Place, Venlo) that you'd have to become a "member" of the coffeeshop. Then they can revoke your membership as a punishment if you break the rules or misbehave in public.

But keep in mind that, comes 01.01.13, the coffeeshops would still break a national law. And I'm not really sure what would happen if somebody presses charges against the coffeeshops. All it takes is one a'hole and there are plenty...

[craig bell]

Yeah u do get those assholes. Lets just keep our fingers/toes.eyes crossed. I thought if they brought this in then it might end up rolling out nationwide. Cause as u said some1 could press charges. I mean if i owned a cs say in the south and couldn't sell to tourists. yet ones in haarlem have the powers to do so. Then i wouldn't be too happy. So it's going to have to be nationwide or it won't work. Either that or ban the weitpasss.

[doctordude]

So it's going to have to be nationwide or it won't work.

Yeah, just try to imagine for a moment what would happen if A'dam introduces the wietpas and Haarlem doesn't

On the other hand it seems that some shops in the south are already taking liberties with the wietpas rules. There are rumors that some shops no longer require a registration for dutch residents: show a dutch ID and you get weed. So it may well be the case that after 1.1. these things will depend on the coffeeshop or the city. Anarchy in the NL

[Sailor59]

that you'd have to become a "member" of the coffeeshop. Then they can revoke your membership as a punishment if you break the rules or misbehave in public.

This system has worked well in the UK for many many years. Working mens clubs under a variety of different guises have been member only clubs with the right to sign non members in. Non members are not allowed to buy alcohol and must be supervised by the member signing them in . Most clubs belong to the CIU and allow members of one club to enter other CIU clubs as a guest and have the same rights as members of that club for the visit. The members of a club own the club, fixtures fittings and stock and the people running the club are the members employees. The problem in law arose that how do you pay for something (a beer) that you already own? After much deliberation M'Learned friends came up with the answer. You are not paying for a beer, you are paying for the transfer of stock from the cellar to the glass. The service if you will.

Now that is pragmatism in action. Would the idea export well to The Nederlands?