Official Dutch government website with new rules regarding new coffee shop policy

New Rules

New Rules

NEW RULES NO DRUGS

Dutch coffee shops attract many visitors from abroad each year. However, from 1 May 2012 new rules will apply to the sale of soft drugs, so that tourists will no longer be able to buy soft drugs in the Netherlands.

The ‘opendoor’ policy currently pursued by coffee shops will come to an end; they will become private clubs. Customers who live in the Netherlands and are registered with a Dutch municipality will only be able to buy soft drugs from a coffee shop if they are registered members. Membership is restricted to 2,000 members per coffeeshop (as of 1 January 2013). Tourists will not be able to join. Soon they will no longer be able to buy soft drugs in a Dutch coffeeshop.

The Netherlands is introducing new rules for the sale of soft drugs. What does this mean?

Dutch coffee shops will become private clubs.
Dutch coffee shops will be out of bounds to foreign tourists.
There will be no point in coming to the Netherlands for soft drugs.
The new rules will apply from 1 May 2012 in the provinces of Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg.
They will apply everywhere in the Netherlands from 1 January 2013.


Why are the rules changing?
The objective of this new policy is to combat the nuisance and crime associated with drugs. The new rules will make Dutch coffee shops smaller and easier to control. Coffee shops will become private clubs focusing on the local market.

When are the rules changing?
The new rules for the sale of cannabis products such as hash and weed will apply from 1 May 2012 for all coffeeshops in the provinces of Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg. They will apply everywhere in the Netherlands from 1 January 2013.

Strict controls on illicit trade in drugs
Combating nuisance and crime associated with drugs is a top priority for the participating municipalities in the southern Netherlands. For example, checks will be held along roads leading into these areas, and in the immediate vicinity of coffeeshops.

The authorities will also be monitoring whether nuisance and drug dealing moves to other neighbourhoods.There will be tighter controls on the illicit sale of drugs. And the police will be keeping a close watch on drug runners and dealers, many of whom are already known to them. Police forces abroad will also be involved in these checks.

Cannabis: not so harmless
The use of cannabis is not as harmless as people think. There are risks associated with the use of soft drugs. Cannabis use can result in mental and physical health problems, and addiction. You can visit the following sites for more information on drug use and health risks or to get help.

.... No way? How do they plan to enforce this? What coffeeshop is going to refuse hundreds of customers?

I guess they could enforce it like in Cali. Get caught - they can trash your business, confiscate everything of value including the building and property, toss your house, freeze your bank accounts, bring in the IRS, shoot your dog and throw your ass in jail.
Usually though, they just raid the place, take all the weed and anything of value and never end up charging anyone.

I guess they could enforce it like in Cali. Get caught - they can trash your business, confiscate everything of value including the building and property, toss your house, freeze your bank accounts, bring in the IRS, shoot your dog and throw your ass in jail.
Usually though, they just raid the place, take all the weed and anything of value and never end up charging anyone.

Would that not nearly destroy their economy and stop the tourist industry totally though?

Unfortunate. As an American, I've been to the Netherlands 3 times. I truly enjoyed my stay and the Dutch people each time. Made friends while there that I have kept in touch with via the internet and facebook.

This is not to say I would no longer visit due to the change. But it's sad to see as I thought the model worked rather well. It was nice to be able to go into a coffee shop and have a joint some tea/coffee and a chat.

Guess I'll spend less time at FEBO though.

What coffeeshop is going to refuse hundreds of customers?

the coffeeshop that does not not want to be closed down and prosecuted as an criminal organization, i know its fascist and it sucks, but this is really happening...

SJ

Would that not nearly destroy their economy and stop the tourist industry totally though?

well certainly a big part of it, however they will found out, until the whole system will be destroyed and the dealing will move back to the back alleys again, and we will be back where we started in the 70's ... We all get the the governments we deserve in a democracy, so we all suck in a way....

SJ

Would that not nearly destroy their economy and stop the tourist industry totally though?

I don't think it's going to kill their economy, but yes it will cut back the tourists and the money they spend on weed and other stuff while they are there. The weed will be bought and smoked by these people somewhere else, so it's really just more of a shift in where the revenue goes.

I don't think it's going to kill their economy, but yes it will cut back the tourists and the money they spend on weed and other stuff while they are there. The weed will be bought and smoked by these people somewhere else, so it's really just more of a shift in where the revenue goes.

Well I mean, they will be spending large amounts on prosecuting people who refuse to accept this system, then they will need to hire many more officers to enforce this law and constantly patrol the areas where the law is accepted, then they will also have to spend more to stop the drugs from entering the country, then they will have to spend more keeping all of the people who deal in the alleyway in jail.

That is going to be a big big big cost, not one I'm sure Dutch people can just choose to make, after losing the tourist industry. But then again, I wouldn't know how much their government has to spare.

So you reckon this will actually happen everywhere in holland on the 1st of January 2013? Or you think the government will reconsider by this time?

Edited by McBuda, 09 April 2012 - 04:48 PM.

Well I mean, they will be spending large amounts on prosecuting people who refuse to accept this system, then they will need to hire many more officers to enforce this law and constantly patrol the areas where the law is accepted, then they will also have to spend more to stop the drugs from entering the country, then they will have to spend more keeping all of the people who deal in the alleyway in jail.

That is going to be a big big big cost, not one I'm sure Dutch people can just choose to make, after losing the tourist industry. But then again, I wouldn't know how much their government has to spare.

agreed

It's not entirely unlikely that our government will fall before this is implemented, they're really going through a lot of trouble trying to stay in power now. Current polls show the socialist party is currently the most popular, and that party opposes all of this. We'll see what happens, but I don't expect this to last long even if they do go through with this.

Wait, you need to be registered AND live there? So my dutch citizenship/heritage/blood is worthless now?

Ok just to be sure... Amsterdam isn't in the provinces of Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg, right? Cause I'm going to Europe for the first time to study abroad in the fall, and I'm gonna be so pissed if I never got to experience smoking in one of those shops.


This sucks

I'm pretty sure this only applies to border towns with Belgium to stop the transport of it across borders. I remember reading that somewhere and that Amsterdam isn't affected.

I'm pretty sure this only applies to border towns with Belgium to stop the transport of it across borders. I remember reading that somewhere and that Amsterdam isn't affected.

I hope so. I always wanted to visit Amsterdam and go in the coffee shops.

Also who could be so stupid to think that it would REDUCE crime. If it can't be obtained legally do they think people will just stop buying weed?

Also I'm curious as to what nuisance it is for people to sit in a coffee shop and puff on a joint:confused:

Edit: According to wikipedia it is just a rumor that this will actually happen in Amsterdam. It has been proposed by some Christian groups but is very unpopular and unlikely to pass as a law. I hope wikipedia is correct on this.

Read the second paragraph under "drug tourism":

http://en.wikipedia....bis_coffee_shop

Edited by Cannabliss88, 10 April 2012 - 06:45 AM.

Yeah... the current government says they will eventually implement this in Amsterdam but it's been pretty clear from the start that that is very unlikely.

This just in: Thousands of flights canceled to the Netherlands in light of softdrugs being banned in coffee shops.


Breaking news: Due to thousands of flights canceled to the Netherlands, the country has gone bankrupt due to lack of tourism.













Breaking news: Netherlands lifts ban on soft drugs.

Well I mean, they will be spending large amounts on prosecuting people who refuse to accept this system, then they will need to hire many more officers to enforce this law and constantly patrol the areas where the law is accepted, then they will also have to spend more to stop the drugs from entering the country, then they will have to spend more keeping all of the people who deal in the alleyway in jail.

That is going to be a big big big cost, not one I'm sure Dutch people can just choose to make, after losing the tourist industry. But then again, I wouldn't know how much their government has to spare.

Tourism is about 3.5% of GDP and unemployment is very low between around 3% to 4%. About two thirds of that tourism is by the Dutch themselves, so I think the effect of the ban on the national economy is minimal at best. The border-hoppers that come across just for weed don't do much for the economy, real tourists that stay a while in hotels and spend is where the revenue is at.

As far as enforcing the ban, there's already a lot of laws that aren't enforced, so if it's really a financial burden the govt will do one of two things - use increased tax money for it or do nothing.

Yeah... the current government says they will eventually implement this in Amsterdam but it's been pretty clear from the start that that is very unlikely.

good to know. i came back from my 1st trip to amsterdam last week, i'm going back again in 2 weeks. i plan on going back many times so i sure hope this doesn't pass... ever.