If you’re the type who enjoys smoking an “herbal refreshment,” and Amsterdam is one of your favorite world destinations to be able to walk the streets while enjoying your “herb” freely, read on for some rather distressing news!
The Dutch legislature has just passed a law that will ban the sale of cannabis to foreign tourists by the end of the year. From now on, only Dutch residents will even be admitted to any establishment that sells the weed, and all residents will be required to purchase a one-year “dope pass” to enter and purchase the drug.
The new legislation was spearheaded by far-right politicians who are convinced that the move will discourage the “wrong” type of visitors. Drug tourists have reportedly been causing all types of trouble in the country, Joep Delsing, spokesman for the mayor of Maastricht, said. “They block streets in the city centre, they don’t respect parking rules, they are noisy and, when they go from one coffee shop to another, they urinate and vomit in the street.” The Dutch health and justice minister added “This law will put an end to the nuisance and criminality associated with coffee shops and drugs trafficking.” Already, Amsterdam has significantly curtailed its legal prostitution for some of the same reasons of not wanting to attract the “wrong” tourist. A huge chunk of Amsterdam’s Red Light district has been closed, with lawmakers wanting to shut it down altogether.
Angry shop owners argue that the move to ban cannabis to tourists could cost the country millions of dollars a year in lost revenue. “If this law comes into effect, we will lose money and jobs,” said Marc Josemans, owner of the Easy Going cafe. They also say that banning the legal sale of cannabis will simply drive it underground, just as in America. Or in other words, people will continue to smoke it, but their source and point of sale will simply change, which will cost some shop owners their business.
