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Dutch Cannabis Shops in Decline

CRI English

Thursday 14 May 2009

The number of Dutch cafes where the sale of cannabis is tolerated by the Dutch government decreased by 3.7 percent to 702 between 2005 and 2007, according to the latest figures from the Dutch Justice Ministry.

The so-called "coffee-shops" were spread over 106 of the 443 Dutch municipalities, which means in one in four Dutch cities one can find such shops, Dutch news agency NIS reported Wednesday quoting the ministry report.

In most cities, these cafes are kept out of a 250-meter radius of a school. However, at least 61 coffee-shops were within this radius in 2007, according to the results of a survey which the Dutch ministers of justice and home affairs have sent to the Dutch parliament.

The Netherlands is the only country in the world where specially licensed shops are allowed to sell cannabis openly. These shops are bound by the so-called AHOJ-G rules. They are not allowed to sell or possess cocaine, amphetamines, XTC or any other so-called "hard drugs." They can neither advertise nor cause any nuisance.

They are allowed to sell cannabis to people no younger than 18, but each time only a maximum of five grams. They are also not allowed to have more than 500 grams of cannabis in stock.

In 2007, 88 violations of the AHOJ-G rules were registered, 19 more than during the previous survey in 2005, the ministry report said.

The Dutch ministers said that city governments find it particularly difficult to check whether the sale maximum of five grams a time is being observed and whether there is no more than 500 grams in stock. The ministers said this is "worrying."

 

 

 

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