Netherlands: Dutch Minister Takes High Tone Over Marijuana Jobs



Pubdate: 26 Feb 1999 



Source: Reuters 



Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited. 	



ubject: DUTCH MINISTER TAKES HIGH TONE OVER MARIJUANA JOBS 	



LEEUWARDEN, Netherlands, Feb 26 (Reuters) - A Dutch local authority has provoked a minor 

outcry by subsidising work experience for the unemployed in coffee shops selling marijuana.	



Soft drugs are technically illegal in the Netherlands but their sale in so-called coffee shops is 

tolerated under strict conditions, such as that marijuana should not be sold to minors.	



Social Affairs Minister Klaas de Vries said this week he was astonished by Leeuwarden council's 

decision to pay the wages of four people selling marijuana in some of the city's coffee shops. 	



The council doesn't see what the fuss is about. 	



In a letter to the minister, it noted that his predecessor, Ad Melkert, had imposed no restrictions on 

the sectors qualifying for work experience subsidies.	



"If the minister believes the subsidies are not intended for this sector, then the law should be 

changed (to reflect that)," the letter said.