Dutch to bogart weed
An 'economy-sized' blunt is fired up in protest. (AP)
A popular reason to visit the Netherlands is about to go up in smoke.
The Associated Press reports a national “pass the weed” law will prevent foreigners from purchasing marijuana in the zillions of “coffee shops” lining the canals of Amsterdam.
City leaders in Amsterdam must feel like they’ve been hit in the head with a wooden shoe because stoned tourists (and multiple dikes) help keep their fabled city afloat.
The new law, which will take effect throughout the country by 2013, will turn coffee shops into private clubs with membership open only to Dutch residents.
The national government argues the move will help crack down on so-called “drug tourists,” couriers who drive over the border from neighboring Belgium and Germany to buy large amounts of marijuana and take it home to resell.
Soon, the only reason to visit Amsterdam may be its rich history, culture, fantastic museums and tawdry sex shows. The local beer remains overrated.
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53 comments Add your comment
Grazer
April 27th, 2012
9:51 am
It won’t work. Probably just a PR stunt.
People are just going to ask a local to grab whatever for them.
Mike
April 27th, 2012
9:55 am
Are members of “private clubs” allowed to bring guests?
It will be interesting to see how this works. In the US, at least, calling something a “private club” and requiring some sort of “membership” (even for one day) has been a simple way to get around restrictive alcohol legislation. Anyone remember the five bars here in Atlanta that were open twenty-four hours?
Ben
April 27th, 2012
9:55 am
Forgot anyone’s personal opinion about smoking pot, if this happens, it may go down as one of the biggest domestic policy disasters in history. The coffee shops alone account for a $3.2 BILLION industry and over $600 MILLION in tax revenue for the country. A HUGE chunk of this is from tourism.
I’d be willing to bet they rethink this after that tax revenue gets cut by 2/3 after a year. Politicians are the same everywhere.
It’s a shame too because many tourists go for the weed and find out that Amsterdam is a WONDERFUL city with all kinds of old world charm.
Ben
April 27th, 2012
9:56 am
Also, c-dog, I can get Amstel and Heineken in my local grocery store. I’m not going overseas for it.
If I want a beer vacation, I’d go to Belgium.
Bulldog Slim
April 27th, 2012
10:05 am
As someone who visited Amsterdam frequently in the 80’s while living in Europe, I know the old “Bulldog Cafe” on the Leidseplein won’t be the same. It was a great place to start and end the day. If the law passes, I guess the locals will now sell it over in Vondelpark.
I'm from Holland....isn't that wierd???
April 27th, 2012
10:07 am
Brilliant move. The marijuana trade will continue in earnest mind you, only now the local governments won’t be able to profit from it. Politicians love to outthink themselves.
No drugs here
April 27th, 2012
10:09 am
Great! Now a huge reason to visit. Unlike the stoners, I don’t live life in a haze preferring to enjoy the culture, museums, and an ability to converse with the locals. They are quite friendly to anyone capable of focusing enough to finish a sentence. Last time I was there, I was embarrassed that so many of the stumbling idiots on the street who could not find a bathroom let alone their mouth to smoke more were weed were predominently Americans.
Bodie
April 27th, 2012
10:13 am
Tragic news. Smh
Bobby Bobby
April 27th, 2012
10:24 am
I go all the time. Shwarma, krokets and Doner alone are reasons to visit. You will still be able to have 5 grams, smoke in the bars, head shops, and the like. The street dealers are gone now but will return. That will sux. Those guys are selling much more than weed. They do need to clamp down. You smell weed and hasj everywhere these days. Not just red light district. Go people. It’s a great country.
david
April 27th, 2012
10:53 am
The Heineken in Europe is different then what we get in the US. It’s much better there. Amsterdam locals are sorry for what has happen to their city after the drug bar opened. Crime has gone up, mostly from people visiting the country. But they are at a point of no return, and the tourists will still get into the coffee shops. If not they was just smoke it in the part or one of the boats.