So this Dutch cannabis-tourism ban..

[TooMuch]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17865151

Never thought such things would happen. Shame for the Netherlands because its surely going to lose a lot of tourism and therefore money.

Can't see people taking the time to internationally fly just for brasses. I guess Dam' is a very cultural place to visit but i think the whole Cannabis thing contributes a lot to it's culture.

People will go on to claim it not called the 'Venice of the North Sea' for nothing but to me that says it all. Why would you go to Amsterdam when you could go to Venice where it is warmer and has better food? (i realise how narrow minded that quote kinda is but i've been to both and in terms of all the architecture etc Venice is just hands down a better city to visit for those kind of reasons)

[AntlionUK]

again with this bullshit?

[Riddles]

it seems it is actually happening too. its a shame and i think it is going to cost them a lot of money

[Sexual_Chocolate]

werent we talking about this afew months ago?

feel sorry for all the people that own cafe's who are gonna lose a shitload of money because of it

[Forum]

Why would you go to Amsterdam when you could go to Venice where it is warmer and has better food?

Venice stinks of shit if you go in the summer

[Riddles]

Why would you go to Amsterdam when you could go to Venice where it is warmer and has better food?

Venice stinks of shit if you go in the summer

this is true

werent we talking about this afew months ago?

feel sorry for all the people that own cafe's who are gonna lose a shitload of money because of it

yeh, the link talks about 1 guy getting 90% of his income from tourists.

[joeki]

Starting from May 1st 2012, all shops within the three provinces in the south of Holland will require a pass/card to buy weed.
This concerns:
Limburg (Maastricht especially is very popular with tourists/shoppers from France, Germany and Belgium).
North-Brabant (Tilburg, Eindhoven and Breda are amongst the most popular destinations for Belgian shoppers)
Zeeland (less known as a weed destination, but still a bicycle ride away from Antwerp...)

The new regulation stipulates that all coffee shops are now registered as private clubs. In order to buy weed, one must have a member card to this particular club/shop. The member cards can only be given out to those that can prove residency in Holland (a local government issued form is to serve as proof of residency). Standard, a club can only allow 2000 members. If it wants more members/clients, it can apply for a higher number of member cards but the local government has to agree and give permission.

The max amount of weed sold is 5 grams of hash/weed per client (card) per day (this was already the case at many locations).

There is one important catch: local government can enforce the new law as freely or as strictly as they please. They are in theory obligated to enforce the pass, but severity of check-ups on compliance, amount of members etc. is all up to the local governments (and not national government). Also, punishment for Coffeeshops boycotting the new law is also ENTIRELY up to local government.
Amsterdams major has already announced he doesn't intend to comply, because the new rule would cause more illegal traffic and would harm tourism.

In May of 2013, the weedpass should be enforced throughout the Netherlands in its entirety.

Getting weed may just have become more difficult though

[Doozle]

So is this actually going ahead, it seems to come up every year.

I hope it doesn't happen, I'd like to go again.

[AntlionUK]

There is one important catch: local government can enforce the new law as freely or as strictly as they please. They are in theory obligated to enforce the pass, but severity of check-ups on compliance, amount of members etc. is all up to the local governments (and not national government). Also, punishment for Coffeeshops boycotting the new law is also ENTIRELY up to local government.
Amsterdams major has already announced he doesn't intend to comply, because the new rule would cause more illegal traffic and would harm tourism.

Therefore meaning nothing will change.

[TooMuch]

What happens to the foreign people who own shops? I know a few popular shops are owned by English people? Think the Hill St.Blues is.

[AntlionUK]

Hill St.Blues

[joeki]

Proof of residency doesn't mean you have to have Dutch nationality, you just have to live there and pay taxes in Holland

[TooMuch]

Hill St.Blues

I know. Took these 2 little gems in there a month or so ago...

[AntlionUK]

i was last there a month ago

[joeki]

for your average tourist (from the UK), not a whole lot will change. Unless you go to Maastricht, which is intending to enforce the new rules strictly, because that region has been suffering from (mostly French) illegal trafficking.

The real victims here are the Belgians and Germans, who live a cars drive away from most of the shops (depending on where you live of course). For people like me it's an hour round-trip so to say to get to Tilburg. So for us, it will be wait and see how all cities/towns are going to enforce it in the south.
Driving to Rotterdam takes at least an hour single trip (probably more), so that's already too much bother (and gasoline price) for most. Amsterdam is too far. Unless you make a weekend of it (like your average tourist, but sort of takes the point out of buying dope in Holland).

I hardly ever drive up there any more. So not really a problem for me.

[AxeD]

I'll post something when/if there's actually something going to change. Right now we don't even have
a government..

[joeki]

I'll post something when/if there's actually something going to change. Right now we don't even have
a government..

haha I know the feeling, as world record holder of longest time without government (we took the record from Iraq mind you), and now we have one and its filled with douchebags. Thank god elections are after the summer.

[AxeD]

I'll post something when/if there's actually something going to change. Right now we don't even have
a government..

haha I know the feeling, as world record holder of longest time without government (we took the record from Iraq mind you), and now we have one and its filled with douchebags. Thank god elections are after the summer.

I hope we go 50 years without a government, if it gets shitty I'll just move out of the country.
Like it's any better when 20 people run the country and 3 million people talk about what they are doing wrong on tv

[magma]

Hill St.Blues

I know. Took these 2 little gems in there a month or so ago...

Aww, I was there in October. Was my favourite one... low key, great music at a low enough volume to maintain a conversation and vibe when appropriate and some WONDERFUL hash.

[particle-jim]

Hill St.Blues

I know. Took these 2 little gems in there a month or so ago...

I was staying in the apartment literally opposite Hill St Blues when i went a couple of months ago, we rarely ventured off our street