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
Wes
April 27th, 2012
6:42 pm
Exactly what problem are they trying to fix? Are the “tourists” spending too much money at the local hotels and restaurants? Are there too many people lining up to see windmills?
count_schemula
April 27th, 2012
6:46 pm
Welcome to weed dealing in the streets. Can’t believe the fuss over this silly plant.
LewTheDog
April 27th, 2012
6:47 pm
I know I’m probably preaching to the choir, but it’s Friday night and I’m sitting here with a glass of wine. Between the Braves & Pirates game and the NFL draft, I’m not going anywhere. There are no kids in the house. I’d love to burn a fattie right about now to unwind and enjoy the evening. I’ll have a couple more glasses of wine instead. What’s the freakin’ difference besides the wine will give me a headache, it’s got a bunch of calories I don’t need, and I won’t enjoy it as much?
count_schemula
April 27th, 2012
6:52 pm
Ambien is legal though. I just suppose it depends who stands to profit off something as to how legal it is or isn’t. It’s 2012, just tax it. Stop it from coming across the desert from Mexico. Legal weed, not blood weed.
LewTheDog
April 27th, 2012
6:57 pm
The other thing our “legal authorities” don’t realize is that some of us who support legalizing the stuff are over 40 years old and have real jobs. I make a six figure income and I don’t have any intention of becoming a full time stoner. Why should I be “punished” because of their own irrational fears of a slippery slope, especially since this wine is arguably a bigger health hazard?
Ronzul
April 27th, 2012
6:58 pm
There stuff aint that good anyways….
miss the weed
April 27th, 2012
7:27 pm
LewTheDog, I’m right there with ya. I got the house to myself for the entire weekend, and I’d love to burn one, but I want.
I gave up smoking weed some years back, because of the hassle with it being illegal, and having to deal with the unreliable and annoying people who deal it. I’ve never been a big drinker, because of the way it makes me behave and the way I feel afterwards. Weed on the other hand was never an issue for me. I was always productive, happy, and I never once said or did anything I regretted while smoking it. It was never a gate way drug to me, because I simply did not want anything else to influence me other than weed. Our hypocritical government will let you poison yourself with alcohol and tobacco, but weed is just out of the question. Greed (pharmaceutical companies) and ignorance (Bible thumpers and the overly righteous) are the only reasons that weed is not legal.
Bill W
April 27th, 2012
7:32 pm
Idiots! It was a huge money maker for them, but they’d rather not have the cash I guess….Don’t worry, other close by countries will take up the slack.
roughrider
April 27th, 2012
8:03 pm
When the Dutch tourism business crashes, they will probably reconsider.
count_schemula
April 27th, 2012
8:46 pm
This is not the Netherland’s idea. They are under pressure from their neighbors.