Dutch health minister says marijuana to be exempt from July 1 smoking ban

[amsterdamage]

I knew the Dutch would come up with a practical solution to the smoke-free workplace laws!

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/...fx4821478.html

AMSTERDAM (Thomson Financial) - Dutch health minister Ab Klink said visitors to coffee shops will be free to smoke marijuana as long as it is not mixed with tobacco, after a smoking ban affecting all restaurants and bars goes into effect on July 1.


The minister was replying to questions tabled by parliamentary colleagues on whether coffee shops will become completely smoke free when the ban goes into effect. Current tobacco laws in the Netherlands do not cover the smoking of pure marijuana or cannabis in coffee shops, he said.


Coffee shops also will be allowed to set up separate smoking areas for customers who want to smoke marijuana and tobacco, although staff will not be allowed to serve or do other work inside those areas.


Minister Klink said he would look into the ban's effect on coffee shops at the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009, including what percentage of coffee shops

[w33n]

It's sad to see that the Netherlands is jumping onto the smoking-ban band-wagon. The ban not only undermines the buisness owners authority and property rights but also makes it easier for lawmakers to strip citizens of more rights in the future. Well at least you can still blaze up.