No smoking 2006?

[DR]

What is that? Can someone explain? Thanks.

[claudandus]

does that mean something like i will stop smoking ganja

[DR]

does that mean something like i will stop smoking ganja

hehe

no I mean your goverment and pressure of people from countryside against drug tourism...

I hope these are rumours only

[Stygian23]

I heard this too. I heard it was supposed to be no smoking indoors (except for your home/hotelroom) as of 2005, but that the Coffeeshops and bars said this would destroy them, so the govt gave them an extension to 2006. But then what? Personally, I think it's bullshit. If you don't like smoke don't enter (or work at) a bar or coffeeshop. Fucking smokers have rights too, even if the rest of the world seems to be forgetting that.

[Boner]

I wouldn't worry the coffeeshop owners will claim their rights have been affected and the government will backdown, stupidest idea ever ban smoking from a coffeeshop - ha ha ha!!

[Sir Ian of Tokesville]

My concern is that it will be an EU directive from Brussels that will put paid to smokinging in public places in addition to leglislation concerning work place conditions. Shares in vapouriser companies anyone ?

Had a chat to a coffeeshop owner about this subject, a couple of years ago, and he mentioned some point in Dutch history, when there was a 'peoples uprising' . Smiling he said that if the goverment of Holland wanted a repeat, then they were more than welcome to try and enforce a coffeeshop ban. Not sure what point in history he was speaking of...can anyone enlighten me ?

[stardust_999]

I am not sure on the History but i would be there this time. I mean no offence to any Americans but it is the US Gov trying to pressure the rest of the world from what i have been told.

Star

[X]

I have a friend whose dad works at the commission here in BXL.. apparently a lot of shit is happening since that referundum that we (France) and the almighty dutch refused to agree to.. their working on making a new constitution for europe and so many things are gonna change over the next 10 to 15 years..

Holland is a first target objective btw.. brussels, berlin, Paris, London.. their all over Holland trying to get them to stop... I hope the dutch will hold tight as long as possible tbh...

[Stygian23]

Hopefully the Nederlands will tell them to go fuck themselves. The Dutch have been a bastion of tolerance for centuries, if they bow now it would be disappointing.

[GreekSheik]

I mean no offence to any Americans but it is the US Gov trying to pressure the rest of the world from what i have been told.

Star

That may be the case in regards to Canada, most noticably visible in the Marc Emery situation, but its a stretch to put the blame of the European anti-drug crusade on the US Gov. Conservative factions in larger European powerhouses trying to push through a ratified European Union Constitution are to blame on this one. There are plenty of people throughout Europe, everyone in my large family included, that are freightend and/or appauld by the idea of decriminalized drugs. In fact, i spoke to a few different native Dutch citizen that said there are plenty of native Dutch who want to criminalize drugs citing that they don't like being perceived as a nation of drug users. I had a few native Dutch tell me that it is mainly tourists and transplanted Dutch citizens who partake in the drug culture and the only reason for decriminalization is to feul tourism. I occaisionally read Weed World, a grow mag from the UK, and I've come away with impression that the British government isn't any more tolerent of cannabis growers/dealers than the US Gov.
If anything the US Gov is most likely in favor of Holland staying firm on their drug policies. As long as there are major sticking points such as this a EU Constitution wont be ratified which favors the US because the economic advatages gained from a ratified constituition would in all liklihood allow the EU to dethrown the US as the dominant world power.

[qahouaji]

That's all false, all false--

There was an article sometime in 2004 on expatica.com. The "smoking ban" was delayed until 2009.

And the EU can propose laws, but the individual countries must ratify them. Any changes are up to the Dutch Parliament! (And they've never gone for them, so far)...

...Enjoy!

Qahouaji

[X]

finally.. a reassuring post

[Too High]

I expect that the peoples uprising was a comment on how the coffeeshops became tolerated in the first place? Coffeeshops opening and being busted then reopening with the people rising against the government in support.

I imagine that if they tried to ban smoking in coffeeshops that a lot of places and people will get busted all over again lagging up the justice system.

[spliffmaster]

FUCK THEM! Assholes always trying to control shit that ain't go no business being fucked with. If it works,leave it alone. All they will do is stir the shit pot and start trouble. Smokers do have rights too!!!!

[keeror]

The non-smoking laws refer to tobacco smoking - cannabis is already illegal everywhere, even in Holland (tho it's kinda sorta decriminalised to the extent that it might as well be legal).
Smoking tobacco in workplaces (including bars, coffeeshops, etc) will become illegal everywhere in the EU in the next few years. There's not a lot the Dutch government can do about it. After all, why should someone have to get lung cancer, etc just because they choose, or have little other than to, work in a bar/club/coffeeshop? Also, tobacco related illness costs governments a lot of money in health care.

It remains to be seen how hash & weed smoking is affected - maybe vaporisers will still be ok, or pure joints?