Weed for all again , Dutch politicians say maybe

[Shanti]

Taken fromhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2012/10/12/weed-for-all-again-dutch-politicians-say-maybe/

Weed for All, Again? Dutch Politicians Say Maybe

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For a while there, it seemed as if the Dutch government was speeding to the total abolition of its permissive policies towards the buying, selling and smoking of marijuana in its infamous, 650+ coffeeshops.

Example of a Dutch Weed pass facing extinction

Despite considerable opposition, the central conservative government had managed to pass a law taking effect in January 2012 banning foreigners from transactions in the coffeeshops in the southern provinces of Zeeland, Brabant, and Limburg and intended to roll through the rest of the country by the start of 2013. Pot-buying locals were to apply for a special “weed pass” that would allow them to purchase and light up.

Why mess with things as they were? To put an end to the country’s renowned “drug tourism” and its ugly side effects, particularly traffic congestion, noise and crime.

Very nice, but it also would mean an end to more than €400 million in annual taxes paid by the coffeshops.

So since the right-wing government collapsed and called early elections last month, what to do about the cannabis trade has become a political hot potato among the parties trying to form a coalition government. Two important figures in the Dutch political scene – mayors of the two biggest cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and both senior members of the Labour party currently in talks with the Liberals to form a new government – are vocal critics of the anti-weed measures. Warning that the weed-pass system risks undoing decades of investment and planning, they’re insisting on a total recall.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte is also fielding pressure from inside his own party as politicians in the three weed-pass provinces complain that the ban has sent drug-dealing back to the streets, where it’s unregulated and overwhelming police who lack the resources to enforce the prohibition.

An Amsterdam Coffeeshop

True, the number of cannabis tourists to the country’s southern coffeeshops has declined. At the same time, though, as street dealers emerge, so have “cannabis cabs” and drug runners who do home deliveries. Several studies show that the previous distinction between the sale of cannabis and hard drugs is disappearing. So, too, the age limits that were strictly enforced in the coffeeshops on penalty of closure.

For almost three decades, the Netherlands has been a global pioneer in cannabis policy reform, evolving from ‘zero tolerance’ to de facto legalization through the coffeeshop network. The system, however, suffers from serious holes. The “back door” problem is one such Catch-22. While coffeshops can sell minor amounts of marijuana legally, the law bars them from actually buying their supplies from providers. A coffeeshop owner described the situation to a local newspaper: “Every day, I’m obliged to commit crimes because I have to stock up illegally. But at the same time I pay taxes on the sales.”

The left and centre-left parties favor new regulations of the supply of cannabis to the coffeeshops, arguing the resulting taxes would bring the treasury €500 million – €300 million in taxes and €200 million in savings to the police and criminal justice system.

Polls indicate that the ‘cannabis pass’ has little support among the Dutch, with 60% favoring its abolition. Also, few are willing to apply for the pass for fear of ending up in the government’s files. The mayor of Maastricht, the capital of the southern region and one of the strongest advocates of the coffeeshop ban recently was forced to backpedal, announcing an end to the weed pass.

So take heart, weed-loving tourists around the world. The Dutch government that was about to extinguish your flame may soon be ready to light it up again

[THE HANDYMAN]

Hi mate thanks for this as i am my self wanting to come over a few times over the next year,tho i am sorry and this maybe as i am stoned now and should read this not stoned,,lol,,but

am i still able to come to amsterdam and have a nice calm chilled smokeing few days to see the sites and museums and stuff,but drop by a coffee shop once or twice a day and then go sit in one at night and chill,lol,sorry for explination iv been planing this for a while now and when i just heard this i was thinking ah shit!!!!

so again can i still come and smoke freely ,and if it is stopping when will i not be able to come and buy in coffee shops,

thanks and sorry for being so dumb,well stonned but im not saying sorry for that,lets just say im having a stupid day,lol

thanks mate

[fmagyarics]

I hope its true

[THE HANDYMAN]

any chance ARJAN could answer this one,PLEASE!!

or at least a member of the coffee shop staff!"

thanks,we need to know for sure its so cofuseing

[Shanti]

I live on boarder to holland the information is up2date

im not worried one bit about january , the hallmark will be set ,the mayor has confirmed this

he has already held a meeting with the Dutch Government they have already agreed .

http://coffeeshopnieuws.nl the most up2date website on the net all others the infos are updated daily

click articles in english right hand side

Peace

rasta is di right tradition

[Caney]

I be there. And dont even belive they close it for tourists. Even if they do you can give a litte extra tip to the guy who serves the buddy bud. So I belive

[Dust]

no they won't news came yesterday weed pass have been canceled

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