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Netherlands: Weed pass: fewer foreigners, less trouble

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Saturday 11 Jun 2011

The introduction of the weed pass, which foreign drug users cannot obtain, results in a significant reduction in incidents, claims a report drawn up by a number of towns.

According to the draft report, a large number of foreigners have stopped coming to the towns of Terneuzen, Bergen op Zoom, Roosendaal and Maastricht, all close to Belgium and Germany, Margriet Brandsma writes in newspaper NRC Handelsblad.

Barring foreign drugs users from so-called coffee shops, where people can legally buy small amounts of cannabis, has not led them to go elsewhere, at least not in the high numbers predicted by critics.

Conservative mayor
"Most foreigners who now come here to buy drugs legally, in the near future will no longer be allowed to do so, and will then buy them illegally in their own countries", Maastricht Mayor Onno Hoes says.

The conservative VVD mayor is a staunch proponent of the weed pass: "Seventy percent of the two million people who visit coffee shops in Maatricht come from abroad. The weed pass will stop them from coming—which means a lot less trouble."

A majority in the council fear foreigners will continue to come to Maastricht to buy drugs on the illegal market. But Mayor Hoes says he will use strict police enforcement to prevent any illegal drug trade from emerging in suburban areas.

Inquiries

With the council split on the matter, earlier this year the municipality ordered two inquiries. One looked into all drug-related incidents that occurred near the town's 14 coffee shops. A second inquiry focused on the consequences that barring foreigners could have on neighbouring municipalities.

The inquiries' final reports are due at the end of this month. The initial results will be presented to the council on Wednesday.

Security and Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten recently announced the nationwide introduction of the weed pass. Under the government plan, each coffee shop will not be allowed to issue more than 1,000 or 1,500 weed passes, and only among Dutch nationals.

http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/weed-pass-fewer-foreigners-less-trouble

 

 

 

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