Up in smoke! Dutch to ban tourists from buying pot

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters Via MSNBC

The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops," where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed on Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading. "No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday. "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40238429/ns/travel-news/

[Lance_Boyle]

1. Aaaaand there goes the tourism industry of the Netherlands.

Seriously - if the tourism industry holds any clout there, this won't happen. Revenue killer.

[davidinalameda]

24. getting ready to say the same thing!

who would want to travel there except to look at windmills

[Vincardog]

2. Are they going to ban hookers for tourists too?

[ellisonz]

3. Booooo!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Hopefully about a half hour after saying this they'll get the munchies and forget the even thought o...

it in the first place.

[Taverner]

5. AAAAAAaaaannd California becomes the new Capital of Cannabis

Because it is practically legal here, despite what happened in the mid terms

[musiclawyer]

12. Next year will be interesting in CA

At the world series, people were openly smoking.
Next year so many people will be lighting up at public events that the cops won't even have time to write tickets. And the sky won't fall. This is important going forward to the next, better version of prop 19 in 2012.

[meegbear]

6. Why do you think people even bother to go there?

For the tulips and windmills?

[bc3000]

10. It's actually a very beautiful country with wonderful people... but, yeah

[Javaman]

20. Your cultural ignorance is showing. nt

[Ginto]

7. So much for vacationing in Amsterdam. Fools. nt

[fascisthunter]

8. Dumb... Is there a resurgence of conservatives in Holland?

always wanted to visit to experience the ability to sit down with a book, sip some coffee and smoke a little pot.

[Uben]

14. Since I play a doctor on the internet......

.....you'll be needing this at least three times a day. Tea may be substituted for coffee after lunch.


Dr. Uben Scrude

[LittleGirl]

17. Yes, there are conservatives families there too

and they say they are trying to clean up the red light district. (Tourism will die if they do).

Frankly, the city of Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful ones in Europe I've seen. Did you know there were more canals in Amsterdam than Venice Italy? Anyway, I didn't see a problem with crime but we ended up back in our room before midnight. I hope this doesn't pass because I wanted to go again. Last visit was Dec '08 and in fact, that's when I was patted down and felt violated by that TSA agent. I told my husband that No woman had touched me like that! I didn't see it coming and they didn't give me an option to not get handled like that.

[elehhhhna]

19. don't forget waving to the Politie!

(Police)

[bc3000]

9. Ive seen this story pop up for at least 5 years now - hasn't happened yet.

[sofa king]

27. I seriously, seriously doubt that potheads cost more in crime than they blow on weed and cookies.

[Solly Mack]

11. Business opportunity - fake resident's pass

I'm sure no one in A-town has thought of that yet.

[bluedigger]

13. They probably already noticed a precipitous decline in tourism.

I mean, I can drive to Cali, grope free...:smoke:

[era veteran]

15. So walk around the corner

Somebody will be selling it and of course maybe some hard drugs too. Unexpected results?

[Poll_Blind]

26. Having actually been to Amsterdam I fully agree with you that that will happen.

I can't say I was continually offered harder drugs by people in the Red Light district but it was pretty common. I think it's stupid not being able to walk into a hash bar as a tourist and buy a small amount and spark up. While a bit more expensive than I would have thought, the hash bars over there or the other places "that also sell hash" were actually very nice establishments as far as I was concerned.

I think this is going to open up a bigger can of worms than the one the Dutch are intent on closing.

PB

[orbitalman]

16. See... this is what happens when politics are involved.

Totally stupid compromises. Cut off your nose to spite your face.:grr:

[woofless]

18. "Papers please."

[leftynyc]

21. Watch their tourism dollars

drop like a rock. Stupid policy.

[superduperfarleft]

22. So why in the fuck would I bother going to the Netherlands now? n/t

[herbm]

23. And this will help the tourist industry, how?

[Romulox]

25. Been to Amsterdam; found it WAY sleazy and overrated. Dope is as good here in the US.

So no biggie. :shrug:

[cyr330]

30. Dutch Pot cannot hold a candle to excellent California

weed from Northern California-- tasty & extremely effective! :)

[AndyTiedye]

28. In Other News, Wave of Cancellations Hits Amsterdam Hotels

[laughingliberal]

29. Is Sharon Angle over there? Makes as much sense as coming out in favor of prohibition in Nevada!

:rofl: