So the Netherland is banning foreigners from buying weed.

[GundamSentinel]

As a Dutchy I'm glad to hear this. I've had just about enough of all the uninformed and careless junkies who invade my city to desperately score some pot, only to go into some rampage because they've been completely overwhelmed by it's potency. Just the fact that there's hardly 20 replies in here and several individuals have already announced to reconsider their holiday plans makes me glad for this new policy. If you plan your holiday somewhere just so you can use drugs you have issues and I do not want you in my country.

Same here. Though I think the problems of drugs tourism are mostly in the southern provinces with people from Belgium and Germany coming over to traffic. Still, I too would rather have that people who come for the drugs stay at home; Amsterdam smells enough as it is...

 

[bjj hero]

People who will not go to the Netherlands due to a change in drug laws are probably the sort of people they dont want there. They will not be missed by the Dutch.

Here's a pro tip, there is more to life than drugs....

 

[Strain42]

This doesn't have any effect on me what-so-ever

But it has been pissing off a lot of people I know...a LOT...

Like seriously, they just will not shutup about it.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Good!

Maybe now we can finally get rid of that great big "Drugs and prostitutes; Right here!" sign we have around our neck. I never understood why people would actually travel across the globe just for pot.

 

[JochemDude]

Good riddance, you know how annoying those people are? I live in holland and believe me outside of holiday seasons those coffeeshops are a great place to just get a little high and have a good time, kinda like you're average bar. In the holiday season on the other side they're filled with assholes who think that just because they can legally get high they can do anything to anyone everywhere.

 

[raankh]

So we can't be liberal while still banning canabis to outsiders?

In the sense that it's important to us other Europeans as a bastion of freedom and that liberalism has its foundation in the equal rights of all people, no. But again, I'm not talking specifically about cannabis here, although that has become the primary thing that the Netherlands' liberalism is, I guess. I'm wishing that it would be a debate about other things than weed and whores.

I didn't see anything of drug-tourists when I visited Noordwijk or Utrecht, so I'm wondering if it's more of a problem in Amsterdam, maybe Rotterdam too?

I'd say getting rid of the Red Light district in Amsterdam would be the best place to start. I've never visited the Netherlands as a drug-tourist, and I haven't actually been to Amsterdam, so that's perhaps unjustified, but it seems to me that is the core of the drug-tourism problem?

Oh no. Seriously, the biggest problems are with the southern provinces, since most of the uhm... plantlovers hail from the south, and they often don't go that far over the border. The red light district isn´t that bad, since instead of banning everything, we just control it (prostitution, gambling, cannabis). But I do not see how having legal pot makes us the bastion of freedom. Believe me, I have nothing against pot but the foreigners are just too much of a hassle, so I support this rule in full. And if you ever need to flee to our beautifull country, you will be a permanent citizen and then you can smoke as much as you want.

Ah, well, like I wrote, I haven't actually visited the Netherlands for the pot. And surely, the pot shouldn't be what makes the Netherlands considered a liberal country, it should be the people. That last point is also a good one. Tourists are neither residents nor citizens and aren't entirely covered by Dutch law anyway. Guess I'm just against making laws that treat people differently in general....

If the Dutch want it, I suppose it's right to have that law. It's not like it violates someones rights (since they don't have the right in their home coutry to begin with). Besides, people can smoke pot wherever they are, although illegally; it does grow anywhere. That's why it's called a weed, after all!

 

[kayisking]

So we can't be liberal while still banning canabis to outsiders?

In the sense that it's important to us other Europeans as a bastion of freedom and that liberalism has its foundation in the equal rights of all people, no. But again, I'm not talking specifically about cannabis here, although that has become the primary thing that the Netherlands' liberalism is, I guess. I'm wishing that it would be a debate about other things than weed and whores.

I didn't see anything of drug-tourists when I visited Noordwijk or Utrecht, so I'm wondering if it's more of a problem in Amsterdam, maybe Rotterdam too?

I'd say getting rid of the Red Light district in Amsterdam would be the best place to start. I've never visited the Netherlands as a drug-tourist, and I haven't actually been to Amsterdam, so that's perhaps unjustified, but it seems to me that is the core of the drug-tourism problem?

Oh no. Seriously, the biggest problems are with the southern provinces, since most of the uhm... plantlovers hail from the south, and they often don't go that far over the border. The red light district isn´t that bad, since instead of banning everything, we just control it (prostitution, gambling, cannabis). But I do not see how having legal pot makes us the bastion of freedom. Believe me, I have nothing against pot but the foreigners are just too much of a hassle, so I support this rule in full. And if you ever need to flee to our beautifull country, you will be a permanent citizen and then you can smoke as much as you want.

Ah, well, like I wrote, I haven't actually visited the Netherlands for the pot. And surely, the pot shouldn't be what makes the Netherlands considered a liberal country, it should be the people. That last point is also a good one. Tourists are neither residents nor citizens and aren't entirely covered by Dutch law anyway. Guess I'm just against making laws that treat people differently in general....

If the Dutch want it, I suppose it's right to have that law. It's not like it violates someones rights (since they don't have the right in their home coutry to begin with). Besides, people can smoke pot wherever they are, although illegally; it does grow anywhere. That's why it's called a weed, after all!

Indeed, though I doubt the avarage pothead would know how to find the plant. And it's not like we don't want outsiders to touch our pot, it's just that it gives us more trouble then it's worth. Believe me, it's not a racial thing or anything.

 

[JochemDude]

Good riddance, you know how annoying those people are? I live in holland and believe me outside of holiday seasons those coffeeshops are a great place to just get a little high and have a good time, kinda like you're average bar. In the holiday season on the other side they're filled with assholes who think that just because they can legally get high they can do anything to anyone everywhere.

On the other side this plan will backfire because drugs are hardwired over here, as the article said it's going to be pushed underground. Happened in my city, they suddenly decided it was smart to close all coffeeshops down. You know how it's like now, now you have literally dealers handing out phone numbers to 'order' harddrugs at the gates of high schools.

 

[Chaza]

Well a lot of my friends will be pissed.

I on the other hand don't really smoke weed regularly so am not that bothered.

 

[The Funslinger]

Sons of.....


That's going to cause some havoc. It will have the exact opposite effect that it's aiming for.

So when crime and trafficking soars, do you think they'll realize the direct correlation and overturn the ban, or continue to be pig headed, and put it down to illegal trade without realizing they're the ones who tabooed the whole thing in the first place?

OT: Damn. I was planning to go to Amsterdam at some point in my life and do the "coffee shop" thing. Just for the experience, you know? Well that's down the crapper.

 

[Nimcha]

People who will not go to the Netherlands due to a change in drug laws are probably the sort of people they dont want there. They will not be missed by the Dutch.

Here's a pro tip, there is more to life than drugs....

Well put. There's more to this country than that as well.

This move doesn't really affect the whole weed legislation too much, the selling to foreign people almost exclusively happened in Amsterdam. Yelling about how this will increase drug crime is just short-sighted.

 

[Nimcha]

Well, it isn't technically legal for anyone to buy weed in the Netherlands, they signed the UN resolution in '61, banning cannabis, after all.

I'm Dutch, so let me explain. We have immense amounts of trouble with the "drugstourism" each year. Seriously, these people are responsible for like 20 percent of all petty crimes in Holland. We have nothing against the drug itself, but the kind of people that come to our country in order to obtain it, are often not the most savory sort of individuals. We believe that if we make sure foreigners won't be able to obtain weed in our country, we'll have less of these idiots breaking shop windows and mugging people. Also, the European Union has been pressuring us to ban the drug completely, because people are importing it from the Netherlands to country's where weed is illigal. So we met them halfway by saying that we would'nt sell to foreigners anymore.

Ps. Please excuse my poor English, as earlier stated I am not a native speaker.

I do sympathise with the sentiment to get rid of drugtourism-- that must be a real pain to put up with, but for me as a European, the issue of Netherland being liberal is more important than cannabis. I do realise it's an image; in fact most Dutch I've met are pretty conservative, but as a bastion of freedom the Netherlands has a very important symbolic value to the rest of us. Not on a political level, I mean on an individual level; for the citizens of the European countries it is important to feel that there is somewhere that freedom can be had.

It's perhaps an outdated view, and probably incorrect in so many ways, but if the thought-police show up, at least you can flee to the Netherlands where free-thinkers are accepted. Perhaps promoting other liberal (in the non-economic sense!) ideals could shift the focus from cannabis to why the Netherlands has that relaxed stance in the first place; that of collective responsibility and freedom.

Exactly. The Netherlands is still a very liberal country, especially in social security and personal choice (abortion, euthenasia, gay marriage etcetera). We're also very open to different cultures though the faillure of the multicultural society has diminished that somewhat.

That is how I'd like the world to view our country, not as a refuge for potheads.

 

[MrGalactus]

Isn't this a massive, massive threat to tourism in the Netherlands?
There's no way....

I just don't get it. What is the advantage of illegalising it? Tourism will go down, crime will rise, and it won't stop anyone from getting it.

Colour me confused.

I'm Dutch, so let me explain. We have immense amounts of trouble with the "drugstourism" each year. Seriously, these people are responsible for like 20 percent of all petty crimes in Holland. We have nothing against the drug itself, but the kind of people that come to our country in order to obtain it, are often not the most savory sort of individuals. We believe that if we make sure foreigners won't be able to obtain weed in our country, we'll have less of these idiots breaking shop windows and mugging people. Also, the European Union has been pressuring us to ban the drug completely, because people are importing it from the Netherlands to country's where weed is illigal. So we met them halfway by saying that we would'nt sell to foreigners anymore.

Ps. Please excuse my poor English, as earlier stated I am not a native speaker.

No, no, your English is perfectly understandable!

Would not the problem be solved by say, legalising it everywhere?
Holland doesn't have to deal with idiots wrecking their country.
We have a new economy boosting industry.
People might learn to chill out.
The Netherlands wont be famous for being the liberal ones anymore, so people might look at it and realise there's a lot more to the place than what it's known for.

This makes sense.
Quickly, alert the authorities! Bring in the Krypteia!

um..?
Isn't that the regime by which Spartan warriors used to train? Or something.

Confused again.

The Krypteia was the Spartan secret police who assassinated helots at will to suppress the helot slave population. For an example if a helot had an idea for an improvement in agriculture, he would be executed as he was a threat to the established system.

Ohh that makes sense then! Sorry I ruined your joke
I always learn something here, though. Every Escapist is an intellectual!

 

[exessmirror]

in Amsterdam they will sell it dont worry, i life there

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Hehehe

Even though I'm never going to be touching Marijuana myself, this seems like their shooting themselves in the foot for tourism. Oh well, not an issue that I care about.

 

[bjj hero]

Wow, is all I can say. They will lose ALOT of money from tourism now.

Goodbye tourism, Hello increased drug crime! Another brilliant move by never-counter-productive right wing policies.

yeah that will pretty much single-handedly kill their tourism

I'm sick of reading this over and over. I would love to visit the Netherlands, the whole "drugs and sex shows" thing always put me off though. My biggest reason for wanting to go is the kickboxing and MMA gyms over there. They take it seriously.

Its not a mark on their liberal country, more on the wasters and arse holes from the UK who can think of nothing else when they go there. Smoking pot and catching sexshows does not sound like my perfect holiday. While they will lose some tourism as the pot heads and losers stay away they will gain others when their reputation is less seedy and more family friendly. There is far more to the country than sex and drugs. If thats the only reason you are going I doubt the Dutch will miss you.

Do pot heads ever go abroard except to use drugs? It doesn't sound like it from this thread.

 

[Jordi]

They do realise illegal drug trafficking and crime will go up now right?

Yeah basicly everyone knows this. This is why the police, major citys and most local goverment are against the ban. It's just some national, symbolic, political nonsense.

Sons of.....


That's going to cause some havoc. It will have the exact opposite effect that it's aiming for.

So when crime and trafficking soars, do you think they'll realize the direct correlation and overturn the ban, or continue to be pig headed, and put it down to illegal trade without realizing they're the ones who tabooed the whole thing in the first place?

OT: Damn. I was planning to go to Amsterdam at some point in my life and do the "coffee shop" thing. Just for the experience, you know? Well that's down the crapper.

Goodbye tourism, Hello increased drug crime! Another brilliant move by never-counter-productive right wing policies.

Can somebody please explain to me how this is going to increase crime? Obviously this new policy is designed to decrease it. The crimes it is aiming at are 1) stupid tourists causing trouble (petty crime) and 2) drug trafficking. Of course these won't be completely eliminated, but part of the reason that they are such problems is that buying drugs here is mostly permitted. If we make it illegal for foreigners, then there is no longer a special reason for them to do these things in the Netherlands. They can also get pot illegally in their own countries.

So we can't be liberal while still banning canabis to outsiders?

In the sense that it's important to us other Europeans as a bastion of freedom and that liberalism has its foundation in the equal rights of all people, no. But again, I'm not talking specifically about cannabis here, although that has become the primary thing that the Netherlands' liberalism is, I guess. I'm wishing that it would be a debate about other things than weed and whores.

I didn't see anything of drug-tourists when I visited Noordwijk or Utrecht, so I'm wondering if it's more of a problem in Amsterdam, maybe Rotterdam too?

I'd say getting rid of the Red Light district in Amsterdam would be the best place to start. I've never visited the Netherlands as a drug-tourist, and I haven't actually been to Amsterdam, so that's perhaps unjustified, but it seems to me that is the core of the drug-tourism problem?

It's nice to hear that someone thinks about the Netherlands like this.

We are mostly having trouble with foreign drug use in the border areas, and I would think Amsterdam. You can find coffee shops anywhere though, not just in the Red Light District, so I don't think closing that down (which they are kind of trying, but it's because of the prostitution) won't really make a difference.

And as for our county being "free": I think that mostly we want soft drugs to be legal. Basically, the Netherlands gave itself this freedom. but freedom is only good when people don't abuse it. When that happens, you have to do something. And while the Dutch people have shown (for the most part) that we are able to handle this particular freedom, a lot of foreigners have show that they cannot. And yes, it is just a subset of the people who are causing the trouble, but the fact is that this freedom is a huge magnet for foreign troublemakers, so although it is very unfortunate for all the well-behaving people, action had to taken.

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

I lol at the prospect of foreign pressure which made them do this.