The Dutch crack down on marijuana
Posted: Wed 1 Dec, 2010 12:34 PM
The new Dutch government that came into office this October is looking to turn the country s marijuana cafes as members only clubs. This, in effect, would prohibit foreigners from buying the substance. Ivo Opstelten, justice minister, was quoted as having said that only residents of Dutch cities would be allowed to purchase cannabis, according to a report in TourExpi.
Although marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands, it has been sold openly in designated cafes for decades, and police make no arrests for possession of small amounts. Amsterdam, which stands to lose out on a major source of tourist revenue if this policy is enforced, is not enthusiastic about the proposed ban. Further, European law forbids treating citizens of one European Union country different from that of another, and marijuana shop owners will have difficulty knowing who is a local resident without access to city government databases.
