So the Netherland is banning foreigners from buying weed.

[Tizzmarelda]

So here is the article:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Cannabis-Ban-Dutch-Authorities-To-Ban-Tourists-From-Buying-Cannabis-In-Coffee-Shops/Article/201105416001301?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_16001301_Cannabis_Ban:_Dutch_Authorities_To_Ban_Tourists_From_Buying_Cannabis_In_Coffee_Shops

So thoughts Escapees? i for one am rather pissed and trying to figure out if my trip to Amsterdam in the august will be affected by the ban.

 

[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.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

I am Dutch myself so it wont affect me.

I rather have that they made it plain legal for everyone. Right now the sell of Marjiuana in Coffeeshops is tolerated but still "Illegal". The whole area is a little grey being on neither side.

Either ban the stuff all together or make it completly legal.

 

[Tizzmarelda]

Apparently This was to combat the illegal drugs trade.

EDIT: plus even if your dutch you have to gain a permit from a coffee shop to buy weed from there. If weed isnt your thing then no worrys but for smokers it really does suck.

 

[standokan]

I live in the Netherlands and don´t do drugs, I think it´s odd myself too but there´s nothing really what you can do about it, since they´ve got the whole `drugs are bad´ argument, which they are, but so is smoking and drinking beer.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Thank our new right-wing government for this. They pull off a lot of poorly thought out stuff like this.

As for your trip, nah, things like this won't be implemented that quickly. Amsterdam isn't in the southern provinces anyway, so you're fine for now.

 

[Vandy]

Guess folks'll just have to go for History... and hookers.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

Wilders make me be ashamed to be dutch. He is an ignorant fool that doesnt belong in politics and I wish he would have have left months ago.

The Fact I have to get a membership for the coffeeshops is just stupid. Especially if they are going to charge you for it.

 

[Krankheit]

A progressive party taking the common right-wing, conservative view? That in itself is pretty messed up. Considering that they want to fuck with tourism, probably cause more than a few people to go bankrupt, encourage the illegal drug trade, and eventually ban one of the most famous symbols of their city? That's about a thousand times worse.
I can't in all honestly see this sticking though.

 

[kayisking]

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.

 

[dmase]

I don't see the big deal. Being under age in America I had a harder time getting alcohol then marijuana a year ago. Now i'm still under age and can get both and only pay face value, its cool having friends but since i don't like the chronic to begin with egh.

 

[Prince Regent]

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.

 

[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.

 

[Kair]

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!

 

[blackhole1]

Can you imagine any polititian trying to make that fly in the US? Most nations are, unfortunatly, not as progressive as the Dutch are, so I'm afraid that will never happen.

Thought of the day: Have you ever noticed that when something is being banned or restricted, the abuse of said item often increases?

 

[LightspeedJack]

Fuck, better cancel my plans to holiday there then.

 

[tigermilk]

So thoughts Escapees? i for one am rather pissed and trying to figure out if my trip to Amsterdam in the august will be affected by the ban.

I feel your pain:

September 2012 I was going to Amsterdam so celebrate finishing my Masters Degree and escape the reality my life wil have lost all direction and purpose.

November 2012 I was going to go to Amsterdam for a week so I wouldn't have to deal with turning 30!

Now I will have to stay in England to get absoloutely fucked off my tits which lacks the same sense of occasion.

Well there goes a large amount of tourist revenue and a new industry fo locals selling weed to tourists.

 

[kayisking]

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.

Probably. As I have stated earlier, we have no problem with the drug. But with the reputation it has in other country's, I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. So we have to deal with all the pothead foreigners. I think you can see how that can become a problem.