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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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NL: Cannabis may soothe Euro 2000 hooligans Vivek Chaudhary Guardian, The (UK) Friday 09 Jun 2000 Date: 9 Jun, 2000 Source: Guardian, The (UK) Cannabis may soothe Euro 2000 hooligans Amsterdam's drug-selling coffee shops win right to stay open during football tournament after negotiations with the city authority Vivek Chaudhary in Amsterdam It has become of one the Netherlands' most famous products, and if those who advocate its virtues get their way then Euro 2000 could be the most peaceful and laid-back football tournament in sporting history. Representatives of Amsterdam's coffee shop owners, where cannabis is openly sold and smoked, have been locked in negotiations with the city's authority, after fears that they would be forced to close along with hundreds of bars in the city during Euro 2000 because of possible violence. During the weeks of negotiations, representatives of growers and sellers of cannabis have told the city authority that it would be better off ensuring that the coffee shops remain open and that as many football fans as possible visit them, to ensure that peace reigns in the city. Meetings have taken place with the Netherlands justice department, local police officials and the local authority which regulates the coffee shops and issues licences for the selling and smoking of cannabis. "Fortunately we have made them see sense," said Roland Dam, founder of Amsterdam's Cannabis College which provides information on the industrial, medicinal and recreational uses of the herb. "There is always less trouble when cannabis is involved. I mean, have you ever heard of anyone smoking a joint and then starting a riot? Keeping the coffee shops open is good news for the city and the tournament as a whole." Owners of coffee shops or those involved in cannabis manufacture are not under Dutch law allowed to directly encourage its usage, but have been allowed to point to the wider benefits it could bring to Euro 2000. Officially, cannabis is not legalised in the Netherlands but is decriminalised with the authorities turing a blind eye to its use. Millions of people visit the city each year, which has become famous for offering one of the widest selections of cannabis in the world that can be smoked without fear of arrest. "We are not saying that fans should come and smoke," emphasised Mr Dam. "But we are saying that smoking a joint is likely to contribute towards a peaceful tournament. People will be very relaxed, they will be more objective about the games and they will also become a bit more tolerant if their team loses." Around the city's red-light district yesterday, where almost all Amsterdam's coffee shops are located, preparations for Euro 2000 were being made in a manner that befits the product being offered for sale. Many coffee shops have been granted late licences and will be able to stay open beyond 1am, while several are planning to erect giant television screens where fans can puff while their teams play. "I must admit we haven't got around to it yet," said a worker in the Dutch Flowers coffee shop. Among the handful of customers there was relief that the coffee shops would remain open but dread at the arrival of thousands of football fans, even though some were not totally up to date with what was going on, given that most of the day had been idled away in the Dutch Flowers. "I'm hoping there's not going to be a lot of violence," said Paul, an Australian backpacker travelling around Europe. "But which teams are playing and when does it begin?" he asked through a puff of smoke. "Who cares who wins so long as it's Holland," said Gary, a local resident. "It should be fun. I hope the fans have a good smoke and just love each other." In total there are around 230 coffee shops in Amsterdam and the average cost of cannabis is around UKP15 for a five gram bag. Football fans have been warned that they will not be allowed to drink or smoke cannabis on the street and that while bars will remain open in city centres they will be closed around grounds. Like football teams, the cannabis world operates a league to see which is proving to be the most popular with smokers. Currently topping the premier pot league is a Dutch-produced cannabis called Real McCoy followed by Pot of Gold, another domestically produced cannabis. "It should prove to be an interesting tournament," said Mr Dam. "We are preparing for a massive party. "I think Real McCoy will prove to be the most popular but don't ask me who is going to win at the football. We just want it to be fun and peaceful."
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