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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Netherlands: NO WEED PASS IN AMSTERDAM
Coffeeshop News Sunday 29 Apr 2012 Recent press reports have suggested that a 'weed pass' is about to be introduced in Amsterdam that would prohibit tourists from visiting coffeeshops. This news release is intended to provide the full information on this situation and to rectify these erroneous reports. The concept of a 'weed pass' that would restrict tourists from visiting coffeehsops in the Netherlands has been on the table for some time. Reports that such a pass will be applied in Amsterdam are, however, completely without foundation. The Mayor and Council of Amsterdam are radically opposed to such a scheme and it will not be implemented in the city. For over thirty years coffeeshops in Amsterdam have provided a safe and controlled environment for consumption of soft drugs. This will remain so in the future. The wide choice of coffeeshops available to tourists means that they will have no need buy their cannabis on the street. Thus the coffeeshops are fulfilling exactly the function for which they were established. Put forward by the Dutch Justice Minister, Ivo Opstelten, the 'weed pass' is still at proposal stage and will not even be discussed by the Dutch Parliament until 2012. What is more the Supreme Court equivalent in the Netherlands, the Council of State, has ruled that discrimination against tourists is outside of the law unless those tourists are responsible for more public disorder than residents. Within its ruling the Council of State made an exception under which, in cases of severe public disturbance, mayors may discriminate against nonresidents provided they can be proved to be responsible. Since coffeeshops are notorious for their peaceful and non-violent ambiance -- no coffeeshop has ever been charged under a public order act -- such an exception is somewhat academic. The 'weed pass' proposal was originally formulated in response to cross-border criminal buyers of large quantities of cannabis and large numbers of tourist buyers in the most southerly Limburg province of the Netherlands, notably in the town of Maastricht. The proposal was intended for implementation in Maastricht and other towns in Limburg and never for implementation nationally. Update: April 29th 2012, About the Weed Pass & 15% THC Law Dear coffeeshop visitors and fellow smokers coming to Amsterdam, some international media have been reporting incorrectly about the current Dutch coffeeshop situation. But let's put it to you real simple... AMSTERDAM COFFEESHOPS ARE STILL OPEN TO EVERYBODY!!! Last Friday's decision from the Dutch Court has put the Weed Pass in official effect in the 3 southern Dutch provinces (Limburg, Brabant, Zeeland). Tourists can't buy anymore and the Dutch have to register to be able to buy. If the High Court doesn't undo this decision that will mean that the Weed Pass will go into effect for the rest of Holland on January 1st 2013. Whatever will happen with the Courts, there is a lot of resistance from various (big) cities. The mayors fear that the illegal trade on soft-drugs will increase as a result of the member registration policy and also the decrease in income from Cannabis Tourists. It is not known what the Mayors will do and if the Weed Pass will be enforced in many Dutch cities. The newly proposed 15% THC law is currently just a concept law that still has to be discussed and approved by the Dutch Parliament. So no more cancelations of trips now please! It's business as usual for at least another few months, but if you were planning on an Amsterdam trip, do it this year! Cannabis Retailers Association Amsterdam, July 15 - 2011 For further information, please contact: Michael Veling - spokesperson at +31-653780683 or Maurice Veldman - lawyer at +31-654947384 http://coffeeshopnieuws.nl/index.php/blog/3-articles/79-pressrelease-qno-weed-pass-in-amsterdamq?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150791157188699_22133746_10150791198253699#f154c0a4293ac56
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