Sunday, May 29, 2011 -

    New Amsterdam. A Way Forward?

    As someone who first visted Amsterdam in 1973 and is a veteran of the Vondel Park all-summer festivals, I say perhaps there could be a positive out of the clampdown on coffee shops.

    It’s always seemed absurd to me and a recipe for trouble that while possession and sale in coffee shops is permitted, the supply chain remains illegal.  It negates one of the greatest benefits of an end to prohibition – taking the market away from criminals.

    I am unconvinced that the wietpas will stick anyway.  The Dutch are famous for their tolerance and for an ability to look the other way when it suits them for practical reasons.  My brother in law, a Dutchman, spoke the word the other day ” gedogen”, which has no precise English translation – and is not pronounced as simply as it looks!

    Consider though, as I understand it, coffee shops are to become clubs, restricted to 1500 members each.  This is similar to the present arrangements in Spain and to the clubs proposal put forward by Alun Buffry.  If it was to operate across Europe, it is a method of regulation that I would support and which would avoid the obvious problems that the Dutch towns bordering Germany have suffered.   If the members were allowed to grow for their own use it could become a solution that would suit everyone – except organised crime.

    A Favourite View

    On this basis it may work.   The alternative is that the trade is driven underground and then, inevitably, crime and violence will increase, prices will rise, quality will suffer and Amsterdam, in particular, will descend into mayhem.  I don’t believe that the Dutch people will allow that to happen.

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    • Mat Waddy

      i like the clubs idea but not if the number of clubs was limited…also like casinos in london it should be pretty quick to get membership 24 hrs i think  therefor tourists could indulge easily

    • Anon

      I’ve just returned from a thoroughly enjoyable weekend in Amsterdam. I found the weed to be of the highest quality. I didn’t experience any problems at all the whole weekend only friendly people who when left alone can behave responsibly and get high at the same time. It would break my heart if I couldn’t visit the dam and smoke freely and openly as I should be in the UK.

    • dave parkin

      Ive been there many times just for the weed  culture…. i would of thought a simple daily visitors pass that could be bought for a small price to allow the tourists that do go for the weed to enjoy with the locals…..”a guest membership” so t speak.
      I  think amsterdam tourist trade right across the board will suffer badly, i know i wont be going back if the tourist weed culture is stopped.

    • Mishal Patel

      Unfortunately, once the changes are made, (in the next 12 months or so) only residents of the Netherlands will be able to become members.
      I think it will open a market for ‘street vendors’ to sell to tourists.

    • Doobz

      The EU still has to rule on this issue, I believe. That is where the 1500 person membership limit comes in – shop owners choose to whom they allocate membership. They will choose regular locals rather than foreigners.
      As stated above, this limit will be useless unless new coffeeshops are allowed to open to cope with demand (and an EU-wide take-up of this arrangement would eliminate the strain on the border towns)